Keeping in touch - Part 2

And the New Fashioned...

So first up there's the new 'phone' - skype. For those of us already living away from home we know how great it is. We can see our families and friends for FREE yes FREE anytime we like, or anytime we can agree to be online together! You'll need a computer, a microphone and a camera - at both ends. Just download the software and voila instant communication.

Skype also offer cheap phone rates, so you can call regular phones from your computer. Not to mention if your account is set up in your home country you can take advantage of the rates for that country...  You can also arrange to get a skype number so your friends and family can call your number and only pay local rates.  So do some reading on the skype website and check it out and find the right options for you.

There are other options too, for example if you have a mac, you can use iChat which offers voice, video and text options - again for Free.

Moving along, there's text messages. The instant way to send a short message - you can do this from your cell/mobile phone or skype. Nothing much to say here, 160 characters or less great for short news, happy birthdays or to say I'm waiting down the back of the cafe when you get here.

Then there are instant messages - only instant if there's someone online on the other end. Again you can use skype or msn or google chat (and a million other things). It makes it a personal chat room really. No voice or video, just text. 

Email is an obvious means and you can set up free accounts on a number of websites, like hotmail, gmail, or yahoo.  You may also have received an email address with your internet package if you have one. I prefer an email address that wont change when we leave that provider, but it is entirely up to you.  This is a way you can make sure your message is read by the person you'd like to see it, rather than expecting them to go to and find your info.

Next there is the contentious issue of Social Networking websites.  I'll say upfront that social networking websites aren't everyone's cup of tea and should be approached with caution. But I personally see no harm in using them to keep in contact with people. Facebook is a good and very popular example. Chances are many people you know are on it, they have millions of users world wide. And its free. Here you can send emails within the system, short messages to a public wall of your friend(s), and even add photos and videos. You can share your photos with people who aren't on facebook too by emailing them a link to the album.

I find, that a great use for facebook is actually accessing fan pages, and no it's not what you think. I'm a fan of Babyology, Coochicoos, Kid Style File and Baby Steals to name but a few. Each one updates regularly the posts they've added to their blog or store. It works for me because it's not email junk filling up the in-box. I can see within a few moments whether I actually want to read on. It's a sort of go and get it type of information source.

You can send e-cards. An e-card is a card just like a card you might send for a special event, a thank you or congratulations. These are a great option where you'd like to send something to say I'm thinking about you without the hassle of going to the store to buy one, or to the post office to mail it. The options for e-cards is almost endless. Probably the most recognisable name is Hallmark, though I must say there is a fee for sending some of these, though there are free ones on the site as well.  Try googling 'free e-cards' and see how many options you have.

There's twitter for the ultra tech approach. I think this requires just a little bit much work for me, but it works for millions. Just like facebook you can, in 140 characters or less, let people know how you feel, what you're doing or anything you like.  Similarly you can see the same of friends who also have twitter accounts. Or if you're so inclined you can check up on celebrities or companies with twitter accounts. Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Ashton Kutcher, The White House, CNN and Australia's Rove McManus all have twitter accounts. It's free and again its a go and get it sort of information source.

A great utility of the Twitter website is it's ability to track popular topics - currently 'Haiti' is the most tweeted about topic, so if you want to (without commitment to an account) you can see what regular people are saying about the event. It is interesting to see the activity change whilst such an event is occurring - eye witness accounts and immediate reactions all without leaving your desk.

Another utility of Twitter is watching stores and blogs and their activities. Of course this extends to theatres and ticketing agents and multiple other providers of just about anything too. Check the many ways QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre) is reaching out to its consumers (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr).

Then there is a blog or a website... like this one. It's hosted for free by Blogger. You can write your own material and either hide it from public view or share only with the people you want to see it, or share your thoughts with the world. I am finding that it's a great way to get me thinking about something other than grocery shopping or Olive's many needs.

There are many other sites too, a friend has recently embarked on a three month break where she is volunteering at an orphanage in South Africa. I'm reading about her adventures on getjealous.com. This site is designed to be an online travel journal with photos, videos, diary entries, blogs....... There's also wordpress.com, livejournal.com and many more. There is a huge list on this website Mashable.

Well, that might be enough for now, Part 3 will be about photo and video sharing.


xo S