Abstract: Authenticating a badge. The badge represents at least one of skills, training, attributes, or qualifications of an individual. The method includes at a trustworthy verifier, accessing a badge image identified by a user. The method further includes at the trustworthy verifier, accessing policy identified by the user. The method further includes determining that the badge identified by the user is compliant with the policy by determining that the badge complies with the policy identified by the user. As a result of determining that the badge is compliant with the policy, the method further includes causing an indicator to be displayed in a trustworthy way to indicate to the user that the purported badge is compliant with the policy.

Abstract: Identifying that one or more badges in a set of a plurality of badges indicates that an individual having the set of a plurality of badges meets certain requirements in terms of one or more of skills, training, attributes, or qualifications. The method includes identifying a set of a plurality of badges for an individual. The method further includes identifying evaluation criteria, the evaluation criteria comprising criteria for evaluating a plurality of badges, that when satisfied, indicates that an individual meets certain requirements. The method further includes comparing the set of the plurality of badges to the evaluation criteria.

Abstract: Sending alerts regarding events related to badges. A method includes receiving a subscription for an entity to receive alerts regarding one or more badges or one or more individuals as it relates to the one or more individuals receiving or maintaining badges. The one or more badges signify one or more of skills, training, attributes, or qualifications of individuals who receive them. The method further includes determining that an event has occurred with respect to the one or more badges or one or more individuals. As a result, the method further includes notifying the entity of the event.

Abstract: Voice instant messaging between mobile and computing devices is described. In an embodiment, a messaging service receives a recorded voice clip from a mobile communication-enabled device via a wireless communication link. The messaging service then processes the recorded voice clip for communication via a data network to a computing-based device that renders an audio message from the recorded voice clip. A virtual connection protocol manages and sequences transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events to provide reliable wireless transfer of recorded voice clip(s) via wireless communication link. The mobile communication-enabled device logs a first instant messaging contact into the messaging service, and the computing-based device logs a second instant messaging contact into the messaging service to enable two-way voice instant messaging between the first instant messaging contact and the second instant messaging contact at the respective devices.