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If one attends a Siyum virtually, whether by phone, Skype, or some other means of mass communication, can one partake of the Se'udath Mitzvah (relevant to allow eating during the 9 Days for Ashkenazim and to exempt a first-born from fasting on 'Erev Pesah)?

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Yes - he can partake of the food virtually. – Gershon Gold Jul 23 '12 at 19:52
Note: The link is an example, not the focus of the question. – Seth J Jul 23 '12 at 19:53
another example: collive.com/… – Shmuel Brin Jul 23 '12 at 22:54
@Shmuel Brin that's amazing! – Seth J Jul 24 '12 at 12:07

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http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/weekly_torah.php?id=680

If one cannot partake in the siyum in person, some permit him to listen to the siyum via telephone. This should only be relied upon in extraordinary situations. (Horav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt"l quoted in Yoma Tova L'rabanan page 70 footnote 16, see Modanei Shlomo (Moadim) page)

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Does this apply to Havdalah as well? – shachna Jul 23 '12 at 20:28
@shachna, how would that work? (How can he use the phone to listen before he's made havdalah?) – Monica Cellio♦ Jul 24 '12 at 2:38
@MonicaCellio (ask the question and you'll find that) a person can end Shabbath before formally making Havdalah. – Seth J Jul 24 '12 at 12:32
@SethJ, ah you're right, and this has come up before (oops -- was more targetted there but the answer seems to cover shachna's case). – Monica Cellio♦ Jul 24 '12 at 12:46
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@SethJ, hence the "oops". – Monica Cellio♦ Jul 24 '12 at 13:08
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