Skype
From New Zealand VoIP Users Group
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Skype is VoIP call and instant message service using a proprietary protocol. Skype requires use of a dedicated client application that is freely available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
Free Features
- Calling other people on Skype Free
- Video calls on Skype Free
- One-to-one and group chats Free
- Conference calls with up to nine people Free
- Forwarding calls to other Skype Names
Paid Features
- Call traditional and mobile phones
- Receive calls from phones with SkypeIn (comes with free Skype Voicemail)
- Send and receive voicemails
- Forward calls to phones at Skype calling rates
- Send SMS messages from Skype
Interfacing SIP with Skype
There a couple of ways to connect your VoIP installation to Skype using a proxy application:
- ChanSkype - a Linux application that uses a VNC connection to an X-11 instance to automate the Skype client. A trial license is available. Personal license is US$19 per seat (no technical support available), business license is US$99 per seat (technical support included, limit of 30 seats).
- Uplink - a Windows-based application that installs a virtual sound card to transfer audio to and from Skype. Automation is provided by the Skype APIs. Standard version is free, Pro version is usually US$55 but currently US$38. Differences between versions are unknown and not currently listed on the website. Technical support is available at extra cost. Running Uplink on a Windows box easily allows Skype (both incoming and outgoing calling) to be piped into Asterisk as a SIP trunk.
