
Quantum information processing has the potential to revolutionize both communication and computation. Trapped atomic ions are one of the leading candidates for applications in quantum information, due to their long trapping times, good coherence properties, and precise control of the atomic quantum states using microwave and laser radiation. Integrating this quantum memory with photons establishes a unique path to both long-distance quantum communication and scalable quantum computation. I will present a general overview of this approach, and discuss a proposal to link ions with telecom-compatible photons.