Skype for SIP - Beta Programe Launched

The Skype blog has announced the availability of Skype for SIP, an interconnect between Skype and SIP-enabled PBXes. The new service allows inbound calls from Skype users to an IP-PBX, including via web click-to-call buttons. It also allows some kind of "Skype trunking", i.e. PBX calls can use Skype for outbound, using SkypeOut to make international calls at the published SkypeOut rates. Some kind of SkypeIn numbers can also be allocated for the IP-PBX, allowing calls to arrive via inbound PSTN calls to SkypeIn.

It's not possible to use your IP PBX to make free calls to Skype users (i.e. using their Skype ID), nor does it integrates Skype presence or IM. Many cite IM and the persistent Skype chats as some of the most useful and commonly used features of Skype.

Skype are certainly trying out a lot of new ideas at the moment, with Skype on mobile phones being launched the Mobile World Congress, support for iNum, and eComm announcements regarding the Skype for Asterisk gateway and also the SILK wideband codec.

Link: Skype for SIP announcement and signup.

Reply from fenlander on Mar 23, 2009 - 01:58 PM

This is a very welcome move and opens up a lot of interesting avenues.

Reply from satphoneguy on Mar 23, 2009 - 04:37 PM

the real 'value' in the skypeout services is in the monthly package deals. it will be interesting to see if they allow use of those packages from SIP. if so they will have on offer a very completive offering. the standard skypeout rates on the other hand are a bit on the high side price wise.

Reply from voip33 on Mar 23, 2009 - 04:45 PM

Skype is really becoming a household name. with all these new features coming up, it would not be surprising if more and more users would really opt for skype. With this reality of skype really going mainstream, would it not affect their services? I just notice that somehow, when one gets too popular and attract many users, services tend to decrease in its efficiency.

Reply from ianplain on Mar 23, 2009 - 05:38 PM

Hi

Quote:

Skype is really becoming a household name.

Its think its well beyond "becoming". If you mention Voip to a non techie the will respond with "do you mean skype"

Quote:

with all these new features coming up, it would not be surprising if more and more users would really opt for skype.

I think They must be the biggest in the world already with it seems over 405 million registered users globally

Quote:

With this reality of skype really going mainstream, would it not affect their services? I just notice that somehow, when one gets too popular and attract many users, services tend to decrease in its efficiency.

See above.

Ian

Reply from satphoneguy on Mar 23, 2009 - 10:11 PM

an interesting outcome of this could be that skypenames may become the de facto IP alternative to phone numbers; even in cases where there is no skype client on either end of the connection. i could see them eventually replacing SIP URI's in many calling situations; especially if several brands of mobile phones ship with built in skype clients.

Reply from satphoneguy on Mar 24, 2009 - 02:10 PM

SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHT's:

inbound from skype2sip: if skype continues there policy of allowing up to 30 simultanous calls to an online number(DID) without trunk charges this looks like a very good deal even when compared to wholesale DID providers like voxbone and DIDX. i however wish that instead anouncing a whole new product that they simply drop the price to zero for iNUM calls. that would make it possible to simply use call forwarding in any skype account to send calls to SIP via any iNUM capable service such as voipuser or gizmo5 and would not require cordination between the end user and skype and a special account within the bussiness control panel.

outbound SIP to PSTN/mobile: at the standard rates skype is not at all attractive versus the many other SIP trunk offering in terms of either price, quality or customer service. if they allow use of the 'unlimited' monthly package deals with SIP they may have a competive offering.

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