And do they communicate by phone or indirectly during -- while the meeting is going on, during breaks?

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Gartner, another research firm, said this week that failing to communicate with customers on social networks could be as damaging to companies as not answering phone calls or e-mails.

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"There may be a price we do need to pay, in essence on our monthly phone bills, to make sure that we can communicate in the worst of times, " Mr. Barnett said.

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An optional Skype Communication camera (TY-CC20W) allows the consumer to communicate with friends and family via a large TV, rather than on a small computer or smart phone screen.

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Meanwhile, South Korea said the North appeared to have cut the inter-Korean phone link at the border village of Panmunjom, through which the two sides communicate on issues along the border.

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Separately, South Korea said the North appeared to have cut the inter-Korean phone link at the border village of Panmunjom, through which the two sides communicate on issues along the border.

WSJ: Pressure Rises on Korean Peninsula

The phone call to BMW came after the government accused the company on Thursday of failing to communicate its intentions properly.

BBC: Blair fury over BMW

Those who do email say it is a convenient way to communicate with patients without the hassle of playing phone tag, and that it can keep patients from relying on Google searches that can sometimes lead to inaccurate information.

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