Hack 69. Build Skype Communities
Create a directory of Skype users who share similar interests, therefore building a community. Works with: all versions of Skype. Figure 7-8. Native Russian speakers willing to talk with other Skype usersAre you passionate about a particular area or subject? Then why not build your own Skype community around that interest to share information, talk and chat, and generally form a community of like-minded Skype users! You first encountered Skype communities in "Learn to Speak a Foreign Language" [Hack #68], where Jyve (http://www.jyve.com/) was introduced. However, Jyve is far more than just a community for language learners, as you can use it to create your own interest groups. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating your very own Skype-centric community:
Now you have a new Skype community whose members are free to call and chat with each other using Skype, as well as use other Jyve online features such as community forums, a shared calendar of events, and much more. Figure 7-11. Creating a new Jyve interest groupFigure 7-12. Newly created Skype community for Hacking Mobile Devices7.6.1. Hacking the HackJyve is currently the most Skype-centric community available for Skype users. But other such communities are sure to follow. In addition, you should perhaps not overlook alternative ways of forming Skype communities. Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com/) and Google (http://www.google.com/) have their own group features: Yahoo! Groups and Google Groups. A search of either using the search term "Skype" shows groups and activities that are centered on Skype users (see Figure 7-13). Yahoo! Groups and Google Groups are not as Skype-centric, or as well integrated with Skype as Jyve. But they've been around longer, have a larger user base, are probably more familiar to most people, and in many ways have better and more mature tools and features for managing online communities and groups. If being Skype-centric is not that important to building your online Skype communityremember, anyone can make their Skype name available by including it with their ordinary name in message postingsYahoo! Groups or Google Groups is worth considering. Figure 7-13. Yahoo! Groups already has several active Skype communities |