Skype Digital Kosovo – Integrating Kosovo into digital world

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Send a request for online recognition to: Select Institution

Name: Skype

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chats over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype was founded by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis who were also the founders of the file sharing application Kazaa. Skype has also become popular for its additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer, and video conferencing. Skype has 663 million registered users as of 2010. Unlike other VoIP services, Skype is a peer-to-peer system rather than a client-server system, and makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software; the original name proposed “Sky peer-to-peer” reflects this.

Required Action

- Add Kosovo on Drop-Down menu on user profiles.

We suggest changing the email subject above according to your preference.

Dear Madam / Sir, I am a citizen of Kosovo and a regular user of Skype. I am disappointed to find that I am unable to select Kosovo on the drop-down menu on user profiles on Skype. As you might be aware, Kosovo is a new country so far recognized as independent by the majority of members of the United Nations, including the United States, United Kingdom and the majority of European Union countries. Kosovo has also become a member of intergovernmental bodies including the World Bank and IMF. Leading Internet properties such a LinkedIn and Twitter have now added Kosovo to their menus. Legally, Kosovo had its independence confirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ on 22 of July 2010 concluded on its decision “that the adoption of the declaration of independence of 17 February 2008 did not violate general international law, Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) or the Constitutional Framework. Consequently the adoption of that declaration did not violate any applicable rule of international law.” (see para. 122 of the Court’s decision: http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15987.pdf). The unambiguous wording of the ICJ, a principle organ of the United Nations, is the primary reference when considering any issue with regard to Kosovo’s statehood and its place in international relations. Kosovo has one of the youngest populations in all of Europe. Kosovo, as a young country, is rapidly bridging the digital divide facing its citizens, institutions and businesses. Today, 76% of Kosovo households have a broadband Internet connection. Our youth are leading the rapid spread of the use of all forms of digital media. It would serve your website to understand the size of your users in Kosovo. We are keen Internet users. Adding Kosovo to your menus would help us to inform you precisely about our location. Your supportive response would help us to overcome a technological barrier that affects Internet users from Kosovo attempting to use Skype. On behalf of myself and the Digital Kosovo initiative, I would like to thank you in advance for taking action on our behalf. Yours Sincerely,

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I want my name to be published in the list of contributors!

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Status:In Progress

Emails sent: 399

Points: 1

Status

10 October 2013

Two weeks after we temporarily stopped sending emails to Skype we have opened the case for public again.

21 September 2013

Digital Kosovo team thanks all the contributors who are sending emails to Skype. Based on their last response, they will update the country list on next Skype update. Their team kindly asked us to stand by for the fix and we will wait for their response. We’ll return to Skype on Sunday, October 05

21 September 2013
Skype team response:

“Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Service.

We understand that you wish to be able to use Skype in your country. We will do our very best to help you.

We have escalated this issue to our development team and are hoping to address it with a Skype update soon. In the meantime, we kindly ask you to stand by for a fix, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

If we need any additional information from you, we will be in touch.

Please stay tuned for updates”

12 September 2013
Skype team response:
“We understand that you would like to include the country of Kosovo in the list of countries of Skype. Rest assured that we will assist you with this.
Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. We appreciate your feedback and will definitely look into it.
We are working hard to implement performance and usability improvements as well as new features. We will inform our departments about your suggestions.”

04 September 2013
Skype.com case is open for public.
In case of sharing the page via Twitter use @skype as a handle.

You can also use the social network plugins to publicly request Kosovo inclusion in particular institution’s website.

Contact Details

Skype HQ
23-29 Rives de Clausen
L-2165 Luxembourg
Website: www.skype.com
Email: contactus@skype.net
Twitter: @skype
Category: Software plus services
Founded: 2003

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Last Updates: 20 December 2013

References

Inside Digital Kosovo

Digital Kosovo Mission

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