TechBytes: Skype On Verizon

Feb. 17, 2010— -- Verizon Wireless says it will let customers make free calls using Skype . Subscribers with certain phones will be able to download a Skype application in late March. It will allow them to call or instant message other Skype users for free. They'll also be able to call regular phone numbers outside the U.S. for a fee, but without using minutes from their plan.

A privacy watchdog group has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over Google's new social networking tool, Buzz. Despite recent changes to the service, the group argues that it violates privacy because Gmail users are automatically signed up for Buzz.

That's not the only complaint about Buzz. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Boehret found it frustrating compared with other social networking sites.

"One of the big problems with Buzz, I think, is that it doesn't have two-way correspondence between other social networks," Boehret said. "If your friends use Twitter, their tweets will appear in Buzz. But you can't reply to those Tweets, so you can't correspond with those Tweets other than right within Buzz."

Google says it is looking to address that problem.

Here's an attention-grabbing headline: driving distracts cell phone users . We already know talking while driving can be deadly. But a new study finds driving makes it harder to remember cell phone messages or conversations. Researchers at the University of Illinois found the memories of both old and young drivers suffered from talking on the phone.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for Christians around the world. Typically the observant give up meat, alcohol or chocolates. But this year some British church leaders are encouraging the faithful to give up their iPods and cell phones instead. They're calling it a "Carbon Fast," a way to reduce the use of electricity, and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Good news for those who use a solar-powered charger you can keep the gadgets, you're already operating carbon free.