Remember my SIP to Skype gateway breaks Skype's Great Wall article, which explained how you could make a SIP-to-Skype call using the PSGW gateway? One of the knocks against Skype was that it uses a proprietary protocol, which makes it difficult to use with SIP-based IP-PBXs used in the enterprise. Thus, if you want to use Skype in the enterprise you either have to use the Skype software or buy a separate Skype-capable handset device from SMC, Linksys, NETGEAR, etc. Well, some exciting news from of STONEVOICE. Today they announced SkyStone, what appears to be a software-based IP Skype gateway designed to sit between a traditional PBX or IP-PBX and the Skype network, thus bridging the two. Actiontec is one other solution - via their VoSKY FXO/FXS gateway, which also integrates Skype with a PBX, but it requires hardware, where as according to STONEVOICE, their solution is 100% software.Using SkyStone, SMBs can leverage both Skype-In and Skype-Out to save on phone charges while leveraging their existing PBX and phone handsets - no need for a separate Linksys CIT200 Skype phone for example. SkyStone, a software-based IP based Skype gateway, can interconnect any IP telephony solution or traditional PBX to Skype. This allows enterprise employees to take full advantage of Skype services using their existing phone infrastructure. SkyStone supports both SIP and H.323 so it can seamlessly integrate with any IP PBX, as well as legacy PBXs using a media gateway. The product doesn't launch officially until June, but, as of today, it is possible to check out more information about SkyStone or to subscribe to the beta program, on the product page.
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Neat... but you may also want to check out what we have implemented as Skype support for Xtend IVR. It does this and more... :-). http://www.xtendtech.com/ivr
excuse me, but wouldn't a software such as Skip2PBX also qualify for inclusion in this arena...especially seeing as how implementation of SIP support is right around the corner ?!
I work with Skip2PBX and it is a very powerful and fluent program for functioning as a gateway between PBXs and Skype. Little technical bugs are always being worked out of the program (audio delays improved, etc) and I understand that SIP support should be incorporated into the program by the end of the summer. I'm a little surprised that a product this powerful (compared to Windows based solutions) often gets overlooked when proposing avenues for "gatewaying" into Skype.
take a look at www.skip2pbx.com and let me know what you think ?!
I just stumbled into this blog notice as a colleague of mine was involving me in comparisons between SkyStone and Skip2PBX. Although I do notice that Skip2PBX was mentioned in a previous comment, I do find it odd that Vosky is cited as the only other alternative above, whereas Skip2PBX is either a software or integratable with different hardware solution. I guess maybe some of these comments just have to be brought up to date.
Thank you.