If anyone wants to try Ripple, there is a post here which worked for me: https://ripple.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2053

To me, any way of sending value internationally more cheaply and quickly than with the current banking system deserves a look in.

You should get an address by going to www.ripple.com/client then you have to activate your account by persuading someone kind amd trusting to send you XRP.  You should then move some BTC that you own to Ripple, convert them to XRP and then of course pay back your original funder, plus a generous tip.

Of course, I am at that stage so if anyone would like to create some karma, please send me a few hundred XRP and I will of course pay you back!

rPHtEbMmjtdb3epZCBkWmkpesfejetuyAm is my Ripple address.

Many thanks

Antony

This article is food for thought: http://gigaom.com/2013/05/17/the-future-of-bitcoin-3-predictions-from-experts/