Everything Social Networking
STEVEKHART.COM
You’ll find all kinds of stuff posted at my blog, so keep checking back. You’ll find a lot of information related to social networking, Facebook, Twitter, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), just cool internet tools and technologies.
Bio:
Name: Steve Hart
Job: Interactive Development Director for a large media communications company.
Interest: Everything Social Networks, SEO, Blogs, and Media Publishing.
Italian Judge Convicts 3 Google Employees Over Video
According to Google’s blog, three of their employees have been convicted in a Italian court for failure to comply with the Italian privacy code. 
In 2006, a video was posted on ‘Google Video’ showing a group of student bullying an autistic student (horrible!) at an Italian school. Google quickly took the video down and worked with local Italian authorities to apprehend the suspects.
A public prosecutor in Milan chose to charge 4 google employees for violating Italy’s privacy code. These employees had nothing to do with the video. They weren’t in it. They didn’t upload it. None of them had seen the video before the charges were brought up.
Today (2/24), the judge found three of the Google employees guilty.
Why is this important? Because Italy has set the precedent that employees of a content sharing company can be held liable for their users content. This includes the likes of WordPress, Blogger, Facebook, and other social media sharing giants.
Skype Calls Using Verizon Network
This is a huge announcement and possibly the biggest game changer in the wireless arena for 2010. Verizon announce 
today that starting in March of 201o, Verizon Wireless will allow Skpye Internet calls on their network. ”Verizon Smartphone users with data plans will enjoy free and unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls to anyone on the planet. And you’ll enjoy amazingly cheap Skype International calls as well. All this from Verizon Wireless’ 3G network” says Rob Jackson at phandroid.com.
If all goes well, a data plan only smartphone could make Skype calls without Verizon’s wireless phone service. This Voice Over IP (VoIP) service could change wireless plans and the overall cost of phone service.
We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out with the other major service providers like AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. But for now it looks promising.
From Skype’s website:
BARCELONA, SPAIN; BASKING RIDGE, NJ, UNITED STATES; AND LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG — At the 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Verizon Wireless and Skype today announced a strategic relationship that will bring Skype to Verizon Wireless smartphones in March. The new Skype mobile™ product enhances Verizon Wireless’ smartphones for users who have data plans by offering a new way to call around the globe, while also giving hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world the opportunity to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States using Verizon Wireless. The two companies have created an exclusive, easy-to-use Skype mobile offering for 3G smartphones. Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users with data plans can use Skype mobile to: * make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;* call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
* send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
* remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence. Initially, Skype mobile will be available on millions of best-selling Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones with data plans, including the BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530, Storm2™ 9550, Curve™ 8330, Curve™ 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour™ 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS™ by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR™. John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game. For Verizon Wireless’ more than 90 million customers, Skype mobile adds great value because we’re effectively giving customers with smartphones and data plans the option to extend their unlimited calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users around the globe. And you’re not limited to using a single type of phone; we’ll have nine smartphones ready right at launch in March.” Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype, noted, “People want to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go, whether it’s on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones. Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally.” Customers interested in learning more about Skype mobile for Verizon Wireless smartphones can visit www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile. Additional information about the service will be available next month. Visit www.verizonwireless.com for more information about Verizon Wireless or follow the company at http://twitter.com/verizonwireless. Learn more and download Skype at www.skype.com or follow the company at http://twitter.com/skypemobile
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