While demonstrating a new directory prototype this week I noticed that the user’s browser had done something unexpected, but quite interesting. Installed on their machine is a software product called Skype, an internet telephone application. While browsing a set of directory listings, Skype took it upon itself to turn all the phone numbers on the page into automatic links. Clicking one of these links would automatically start a phone call with the number. At first, we all thought of this as a nuisance, until we took a moment and realized that an editorial person charged with contacting these listees by phone could simply open the listing, click the phone link and be connected with the company. This could save them a tremendous amount of time. An accidental integration, but potentially a very beneficial one.
Here is how it looked:
Take care,
Keith Matthew