Skype Manager, A Multi-functional Business Tool For Skype Business Users.

Skype Manager http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Skype just announced a new tool, Skype Manager. Skype Manager is a multi-functional business tool that lets you centrally manage Skype across your company. You can add members, allocate Skype Credit, assign features, and monitor usage and allocations. The new tool replaces Skype Business Control Panel (BCP). Among other things, it has a new Dashboard feature.
If you are using Skype for SIP (Which is how we connect our VoIP IP Telephony network to Skype Network)that too could be managed via the new Skype Manager. Using the product is pretty simple that the Skype team was able to present you a quick start instructions with graphics in a three page PDF.
You can find more information about Skype Manager Here

Skype for SIP Beta, Connect SIP Infrastructure To The Skype Community

(Skype has Approved Shoretel Gear to be compatible with Skype for SIP, with this Shoretel becomes the first IP PBX vendor to be approved by Skype.)

Skype for SIP.
Skype has announced Skype for SIP. a service to connect SIP comminications devices to Skype netwoek allowing to call any landline or mobile phones with low Skype rates. It also allows millions of Skype users to call you directly, for free.
One could also put Skype for SIP to work in many a ways like;

• With click-to-call buttons customers can contact you directly from your site or email.
• Customers can call you on a local online number.
• Your business will have a presence within the community of over 440 million registered Skype users.
• Free Skype calls to the office when travelling.
• Business as usual for home workers – the office is one click away.
• Your business will be globally accessible and visible to the Skype community and potential partners.
• Improve long distance business relationships with free inbound calling. 

 All for rates from just 1.7€¢ / 2.1US¢ per minute (A connection fee applies.) to more than 35 countries worldwide.
For technically minded,  Skype for SIP is a standards-based RFC3261 SIP interface.

• Signaling: SIP (rfc3261)
• Channels: Maximum of 300 channels (concurrent calls)
• Authentication: IP authentication or SIP DIGEST
• Transport: UDP, Support for Far end NAT traversal
• CODECS:G.711 µLaw/ALaw (20ms/40ms), G.729 (Annex A and B)
• DTMF: RFC2833 and SIP INFO
• Call Support: Call on Hold, Music on Hold, Call transfer, Early media
• Number Format: e.164 (country code and national number)

and all you need is a SIP-enabled PBX which supports either of the G.729/G.711 codecs.

You can Apply for Skype FOr SIP here.

Skype, Largest International Communications Carrier

Number one call carrier
If you thought AT&T joining hands with RIAA id bad news, now the news is that it is loosing to Skype in international call carrying business. Now I wonder if Skype users get letters from AT&T and RIAA, after all it is a peer to peer application and one can share files with it!
Skype has been a talk of the town for years now and looks like making some money for Ebay, who paid hefty price for it. Skype made $550 million in 2008, which is peanuts for companies like AT&T.

TeleGeography estimates that Skype's international traffic jumped by 41 percent in 2008 and topped 33 billion minutes of use, most of that in free calls. Traditional international calls grew only 12 percent in 2008.
But now with Skype joining with companies like Digium, the creator of open source IPPBX software Asterisk (Skype for Asterisk) and the latest Skype drive Skype for SIP which targets small and medium business PBX and VoIP Phones, will be pulling in business customers everywhere and we might read in 2009 report that it is the number one local carrier.
As many mobile hand sets now are capable of running mobile VoIP apps, I am sure executives of big phone companies spending more time talking about Skype than talking with AT&T Talking With RIAA.
ARS Technica has a very good article on this subject.

Tags: skype, RIAA, ATT, digium, Asterisk, Skype For SIP, Skype for Asterisk

Skype For SIP Goes Beta

Skype For SIP
Skype opened up Skype For SIP Beta today and I think this will propel Skype much forward in the small and medium business world, if they are already not using the Skype. Perhaps this is a good follow up for Skype Opening up the SILK Speech Codec. I think Skype is waking up from it's long slumber.
According to Skype, Skype For SIP provides business with;

• Receive and manage inbound calls from the 405 million Skype users worldwide on SIP-enabled PBX systems, connecting the company website to the PBX system using Skype click-to-call buttons
• Place calls via Skype to landlines and mobile phones worldwide from any connected SIP-enabled PBX, saving your business money with Skype’s low rates
• Purchase Skype online numbers to receive calls to the corporate PBX from landlines or mobile phones
• Manage Skype calls using your existing hardware and system applications such as call routing, conferencing, phone menus, voicemail and call recording and logging – no additional downloads or training are required

Skype For SIP is the perfect way to integrate Skype with your existing PBX, allowing the communications from your PBX to be complemented by Skype functionality.

If you are looking forwrd to connect to vast Skype Network and save some bucks, I think you should apply for the beta at Skype For SIP site, provided that you have an IP-PBX like Asterisk already.

Another thought for Asterisk users is the Asterisk For Skype (SFA) (which entered second beta tests) that is also on the way. But I think the VoIP is on the way to integrate and share like WWW. Good move Skype. I know a few companies that will register, because I already emailed and asked them to.

But you can always do better with a few free SIP Accounts.

Tags: SIP-enabled PBX, Skype, Asterisk For Skype, Skype For SIP, skype, SIP, VoIP