"The best-case scenario is when partners can voice small problems when they come up, rather than store them and then erupt, " says Orenstein.

CNN: I see a bad mood rising

Customer service reps can process orders or solve support problems by simply communicating by voice.

FORBES: CES 2013: CIOs Search for the Next Killer App

Central bankers would then have a stronger voice in advising politicians about solving global problems.

ECONOMIST: The world trade system

But many of the problems identified at the time - such as lack of a regional political voice in Westminster and economic "marginalisation" - still remained, he added.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

Picking up the pieces in the Middle East, trying to make its voice heard in the war on terror, under pressure to do much more to sort out the problems of regions that were seen, in the past, as mere targets of trade opportunity all these demands are forcing Europeans to think how they might better orchestrate their dealings with the outside world.

ECONOMIST: Europe in the world

Hours after Skype, the popular Internet voice calls service, went down on Wednesday for more than 20 million users, Twitter is now experiencing problems as well.

FORBES: Twitter Goes Down, Just Hours After Skype