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Skype for Cisco Interoperable with Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series

September 23, 2009

Skype for SIP keeps adding more SIP-based IP-PBX solutions to their interoperability list. First they had Shoretel, then SIPfoundry's sipXecs and now today they announced that they are interoperable with Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series for Small Business.

"In today's tough economy, executives of smart small and medium-sized companies realize that effective communications with customers, partners and employees are a key to helping them grow their business," said Stefan Oberg, VP and General Manager of Skype for Business. "By certifying Skype for SIP as interoperable with the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series, we are providing a single offering that will help many SMBs around the globe save money, save time and stay ahead of the competition."

Full Story

Posted in SIP, ShoreTel, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Joost Sues Volpi for Attempting a Web-based Skype network

September 18, 2009

Maybe the end of Skype is not near? The plot thickens as Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, both founders of Joost and Joltid, today announced that they have filed a lawsuit against Mike Volpi, Joost's former president, CEO and chairman. The suit also names his current private equity firm (and Joost investor) Index Ventures. The legal documents say that Volpi obtained confidential information in his role as CEO of Joost about how to circumvent Joltid's intellectual property - the very same intellectual property needed to run Skype.

According to Newteevee.com, "The gist of the lawsuit is that Volpi learned how to modify Joltid's proprietary software to run on the web without the aid of peer-to-peer software when he was transitioning Joost from a peer-to-peer service to a web-based Hulu clone.

Posted in News, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, p2p

Skype Tops the IM Charts Surpassing Windows Live Messenger

September 18, 2009

According to the Skype blog, new data released by the exo.performance.network shows that Skype has eclipsed Windows Live Messenger as the #1 IM application. Skype just squeaked by with 17% vs. 16.7% for Windows Live Messenger.

Nicely done Skype! I just hope the end is not near.

Posted in Internet, Microsoft, News, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, p2p

Is The End of Skype Near?

September 18, 2009

As you probably heard, Joltid has sued eBay and now the new consortium of buyers, over the P2P licensing rights used in Skype.

Brad from the 'Twilight in the Valley of the Nerds' blog emailed me to say he read my Joltid article, including the comments from Julian Cain, a former Kazaa employee, where Julian commented that Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Fris can remotely shut down Skype by remotely revoking the cryptographic keys.

In my article, Cain wrote in the comments section:

I worked on Kazaa at the same time Skype was being developed in the labs at Joltid.

There is a history of this greed so let me lay it out:

Kazaa was built as a client on top of a p2p library named FastTrack.
Joltid which was known as "consumer empowerment" at the time licensed the FastTrack p2p stack to Grokster. Having said that the Kazaa client was made brand-able. The 3 guys that built the original FastTrack library did not use proper Cryptographic code at the time and decided to build their own because Nick and Janus wanted the protocol to be protected so they could build the empire. Now back to Grokster, this same thing happened to them but it was supposedly due to default payment for the FastTrack license.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Siphon SIP App for iPhone Works over AT&T's 3G network? Holy Toledo!

September 17, 2009

I tested Siphon, a SIP-based VoIP application for the iPhone, in California at ITEXPO. Interestingly, Siphon worked perfectly in California over AT&T's 3G data network. Yes, you read that right - VoIP over 3G! I couldn't contain my giddiness when I realized I could now register my iPhone with TMC's Asterisk-based IP-PBX and make/receive calls.

Posted in Apple, Asterisk, Gadgets, ITEXPO, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Skype Nixes Skype Extras

September 14, 2009

While everyone from Apple to Palm to Microsoft have built or are building an app store, it appears Skype is getting out of the app business. I read the news on Friday on CNet that Skype is pulling the plug on its Extras program, which enables third-party developers to create add-ons for Skype. According to CNET, "not enough people were installing Skype Extras, Skype said in both an e-mail and in a blog post to developers."

Skype is allowing for some transition time, but it won't certify any new applications and any existing Extras will eventually have their digitally signed certificate expire. So your favorite third-party Skype Extra will eventually die.

Ok, so maybe Skype Extras wasn't that popular with Skype users, but I think Skype is to blame, not the developers.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Skype for iPhone 1.2 Crash Problem Fixed

September 10, 2009

Many users have been complaining about Skype for iPhone 1.2 crashing or locking up their iPhones. The recent 1.2 version released just last Friday repeatedly crashes either after logging on or dialing a number and affects both jailbroken and non-jailbroken iPhones. A thread on the Skype forums revealed some very unhappy users.

Well, today Skype released 1.2.1, a hotfix, to solve this problem.

Raul on the Skype blog writes:

With this hotfix we have addressed three issues about what you have been telling to us lately.

We would suggest for everyone to upgrade in iTunes.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Skype for iPhone Comes to Canada

September 9, 2009

If you recall, I wrote how Skype for iPhone and iPod touch was blocked in Canada. A Skype representative told me, "There are some patent-licensing issues which prevent us from offering it there." The Skype representative went on to say "I can't go into many more details other than it's codec related."

Well my Canadian brothers, rejoice! Today, Skype is bringing the iPhone & iPod touch app to Canada after settling the dispute. The Skype for iPhone application for iPhone and iPod touch is available immediately on the App Store in Canada.

As to the dastardly villain who was blocking Skype for iPhone in Canada, I contacted a Skype representative but he couldn't disclose the company name.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Why Did the Skype eBay Marriage Fail?

September 2, 2009

PC World called me while I'm busy covering all the VoIP news happening at ITEXPO. I took PC World's Jeff Bertolucci call and he interviewed me about the failed Skype eBay marriage. He then quoted my thoughts on eBay selling off Skype and why it failed. The story was also carried on InfoWorld, which is one of my favorite tech magazines of all time! The article was also posted on NetworkWorld, another one of my favorites. Nice to be quoted by three esteemed technology publications. Fellow VoIP blogger Andy Abramson was also quoted.

You can check out what I had to say here:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/171267/skype_ebay_divorce_what_went_wrong.html

or
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/090109-skype-ebay-divorce-what-went.html?hpg1=bn

or
http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/skype-ebay-divorce-what-went-wrong-098

Posted in ITEXPO, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Skype for Asterisk Launches

September 1, 2009

At TMC's ITEXPO, Digium and Skype announced the official launch of Skype for Asterisk, which was launched as a closed beta back in September 2008. Well, now anyone can now download Skype for Asterisk and make & receive low-cost calls leveraging Skype.

According to Digium, "Now businesses can take advantage of Skype's low-cost calling to landlines and mobile phones and free calling to more than 400 million registered Skype users around the world. Skype for Asterisk allows businesses to access the world's largest community of people communicating over the Internet, natively encrypts all voice calls and lets companies manage their Skype user accounts via Skype's Web-based Business Control Panel. Businesses already using an Asterisk-based phone system can add Skype as another complementary form of communications by downloading Skype for Asterisk, without additional costly hardware.

Posted in Asterisk, ITEXPO, Linux, News, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP

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