Receive FROM Skype (as much as I dislike it)

[link3]

As much as I dislike having to use Skype, a lot of mates just won't/don't move elsewhere.

Would it be at all possible to RECEIVE/RE-Direct an INBOUND Skype call to our SIP address. Say using the SIP Switch with some sort of bridge to the Skype network.

I have no interest in making OUTBOUND calls, because that would likely force me to run the skype software at my end, and I don't want to switch my PC on just for that!

Considering I don't know exactly what I'm talking about - please read beteeen the lines!

[Aaron]

Hi link3,

The big problem with Skype (and Vonage which is the other network we get a few requests about) is that they operate closed networks. This means they do not accept or allow VoIP-to-VoIP calls and the only way to get into their network is via the PSTN using Skype-In or getting Skype users to call a PSTN number. This is obviously not great because it means the caller will be paying for a PSTN call.

For that reason we do not forsee anytime soon when it will be possible to interconnect with the Skype network in the same fashion we can connect with other VoIP networks. The sipswitch cannot help either since it uses the SIP protocol and that's the defact insdutsry protocol that Skype does not currently support.

There are possibly workarounds available to allow SIP-Skype interoperability but until there is an officially supported Skype one we are reluctant to invest the time and effort with it as it would get very messy trying to track down issues and if Skype aren't helping very frustrating as well.

Hth,

Aaron

[link3]

Originally Posted by Aaron

Hi link3,

There are possibly workarounds available to allow SIP-Skype interoperability but until there is an officially supported Skype one we are reluctant to invest the time and effort with it as it would get very messy trying to track down issues and if Skype aren't helping very frustrating as well.

I know all about the closed network system - hence my reason for being with Blueface at the moment, I only was enquiring because

1) My mates are thick as planks.
2) I saw products like this on the market and got thinking:

http://www.rsdevs.com/psgw.shtml

As I said, it would only be for INBOUND calls, as I'm sure 99% of us don't want to have a PC running just to run the Skype software to make outgoing calls.....and seeing as most of the SIP hardware out there will never be able to be "upgraded" (not a word I wanted to use) to run Skype software - that would be the only way possible to make those types of calls.

Stupid skype anyway!