Today, Skype announced it is enabling SIP-based IP-PBX to connect to the Skype network, which will allow low-cost SkypeOut calling, receiving calls from Skype users, and receiving calls from regular PSTN phone lines. Outbound calls from IP-PBX SIP handsets to Skype phones is not part of this news announcement. Skype commented it is too difficult to dial Skype usernames from a desktop handset.Features:
- 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 perfectly suited to businesses that already have IP-PBXs and want to connect to Skype's network which offers low-cost calling. Skype for SIP is being launched as a closed beta program, but you can register and try to be part of the beta. Interestingly, Asterisk for Skype, a SIP-based (and IAX) open-source IP-PBX was the first to offer some tight integration with Skype.
If Skype continues to open their proprietary doors (they recently announced they were giving away the SILK codec), and now they've finally enabled SIP-to-Skype integration, then we can see a momentous shift from SIP trunking to Skype trunking. Customers will not only choose the lowest cost IP trunk, but also the one with the best quality. Skype is renowned for their high-quality due to their P2P architecture, so companies will look very closely at Skype trunking instead of SIP trunking.
And of course if customers shift to purchasing Skype trunks, the SIP trunks will have to follow suit, which means a win-win for businesses looking for low-cost calling.
Via Skype blog
Update: Also check out Dan York's analysis and Rich Tehrani's post.
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