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Rejected by Skype
I didn’t make the grade. They’re not going to let me play with “Skype for SIP”.
I guess I’ll find a way to make it through another day, somehow.
Skype for iPhone challenged by limitations
Apple’s decision to not allow “background” apps and AT&T’s decison to not allow voice calls over their network, severely limit the utility of Skype’s iPhone application.
No calls unless you can get Wifi.
In general, incoming calls are impractical, even if you’re on wifi, since the Skype app has to be the one and only active app in order to receive calls. If you’re doing something else on the phone, like browsing or checking email (or twitter), you cannot receive calls.
In test calls, I found the app unreliable even when all the conditions are met. Trying to call the iPhone Skype from a PC, the calling side just continued to ring, even after I answered the call on the iPhone. The Skype for iPhone app then seemed “frozen” where I couldn’t end the call or do anything except hit the big button.
When calls did connect (requires the iPhone to be connected via Wi-fi), the call quality was fine.
Not being able to make Skype calls except when connected to wi-fi is a pretty big limitation for me. Ironically, when a friend had to call their wife on Skype in Costa Rica recently, I had to let them use PhoneGnome and OpenSky on my iPhone to do so, because that was the only combination that worked on iPhone without wifi.
Skype For SIP Beta
Via Pat Phelan, I signed up telEvolution Inc. for the Beta. We’ll see if we hear back or if they accept us.
It looks like Skype For SIP supports calling from Skype into a SIP PBX, but not calling a Skype user (free call) from a SIP PBX. It supports placing calls from SIP using SkypeOut, though, so we’ll see.
Skype For SIP now available in Beta
UPDATE: via Skype Journal, I see that “Skype for SIP” maps one Skype username to one IP address (SIP address?) - this is basically for “Skype Me” buttons and to let Skype users ring your PBX.
It also lets a businesses use SkypeOut for outgoing calls. As Phil notes, Skypeout rates are higher than what businesses can already get from typical SIP termination providers, so I’m not sure what the win is there.
So, all in all, “Skype for SIP” is not the SIP interoperability everyone is asking for. For better SIP/Skype interoperability, we still need to turn to third parties like OpenSky. On the other hand, while “Skype for SIP” appears to be a pretty small step toward Skype/SIP interoperability, it is at least a step, and we should give them some credit for that.
Michael Robertson moves beyond Skype open/closed debate
Rather than bicker over what “open” means and whether Skype is open or not, Michael Robertson has just ignored the whole thing and taken action instead.
Today, Gizmo5 launched OpenSky, a SIP to Skype gateway. if you want to call a Skype user named echo123 you simply call SIP address sip:echo123@opensky.gizmo5.com
The free version can be used by anyone for calls up to 5 minutes long. For longer calls, you need to use their paid service, which is $20 per year for individuals.
I guess this will test Skype’s claim that no one is asking for this service.
Amen to Michael Robertson in note to Skype
Andy refers us to a letter Michael Robertson (CEO of Gizmo) sent to Chris Libertelli at Skype. In part, it says:
[in regards to Skype demanding that wireless companies open their networks], Skype’s actions do not mirror their words to the commission which diminishes credibility for Skype to demand openness.
…
It appears that when it is convenient for Skype’s business objectives Skype waves the flag of openness, at the same time conveniently ignoring competitors requests for openness.
Here, here. You can read the entire letter over at Andy’s site.
