ususbaby.com Blog

With Euro-based Skype having issues these last couple of days, I’ve noticed quite a few articles talk about its impact on small businesses who’d given up land phone lines. Well, OK, sure they’re impacted, but most small business people I know also have cell phones with them that they can use.

But you know who I know who doesn’t have cell phones at one’s disposal? Us overseas travelers who use Skype to call the people back home. Um, hello? Some of us travelers have had our mobile phones snatched from our bags in Xi’an, China (Oh, wait, I think that’s just me…) and truly are cut off from phone use. Really, though…on my little jaunt through Asia, I’ve seen Internet cafe’s everywhere, and most don’t just peg themselves as a place to e-mail, surf the web, or chat…they also advertise their “overseas calls” using Skype. And every time you go into one of these places, you’re sure to see some fresh-faced traveler who left the mobile at home staring into the void of a computer screen; she’s probably either telling her friends back home about the crazy week she just spent in Chiang Mai or assuring her parents that she’s still alive.

Yep, today’s backpacker or traveler has truly come to rely on Skype. That’s part of why having Internet in my room has been so important to me on this trip. With Skype, I thought I’d be able to call the fam or interview sources back in the states.

Sadly, though, I missed an interview with someone I was supposed to call 18 hours ago. And although I told my dad I’d call what would have been today, there’ll be no call. So, if my parents start freaking out and wondering if I’m dead, you can blame Skype.

I think Mr. U of M alumni Skype man (CEO/co-founder) needs to get this figured out soon.

Man, it’s times like this when technology’s globalization is no bueno.