"These Digital Times" blogger John Welsh gives Skype kudos and talks about how he spread the word on Skype Video calling during a recent business trip to the US.

Welsh, who works for an international B2B (business-to-business) exhibition and magazine company has been encouraging new contacts to sign up for Skype.

He notes: "I have always loved Skype. It is free! It is video! It is like being in StarTrek! What more could you want?"

He wants his colleagues to call each other face-to-face rather than send e-mails or make audio conference calls.

But now he ponders what the proper approach is to alert people when you'd like to make a Video call.

He asks: "What is the etiquette, however, for these B2B calls? In family-to family or friend-to-friend, you almost always need to make a quick phone call to alert the other person. 'Get on Skype' is the command to open up the laptop and get talking. But the office is different.

"People often have their laptop/computer booted up all day. Unless the user remembers to click on the various Skye icons indicating the readiness of the person to speak, you can easily interrupt a meeting at a desk or a train of thought."

Welsh suggests a quick e-mail to set up an appointment with the same preparation one takes for a conference call.

Here's another approach: I often use Chat to check in B2B or F2F before making even an audio call--even if someone signals they are on SkypeMe status or otherwise available.

Any other suggestions for making B2B or F2F calls in "These Digital Times"?