PBX Featured Article

It is official, Skype (News - Alert) Connect 1.0 – formerly known as Skype for SIP – has been launched. This business solution has left the beta phase to deliver a business solution that is designed to allow IP-enabled private branch exchange PBX’s (News - Alert) or UC systems to connect to Skype.

With Skype Connect, businesses now have the ability to make outbound calls from desktop phones to landlines and mobiles throughout the world that are billed according to Skype’s standard per-minute calling rates. Businesses can also receive inbound calls from Skype connected users by placing Skype’s Click & Call buttons on their websites.

Skype Connect enables the receipt of calls from landlines or mobile phones in the corporate PBX using Skype’s online numbers. Users can also manage Skype calls using existing PBX or UC system features such as call routing, automatic call distribution, conferencing, auto-attendant, voicemail, call recording and logging.

“Since its inception, Skype has been used by many businesses wanting to reduce communications costs. In fact, based on internal research, in the first quarter of 2010, approximately 37 percent of Skype users reported that they use Skype for some business or business-related purposes,” said David Gurlé, vice president and general manager of Skype for Business, in a statement.

“Our team’s goal is to empower businesses of all sizes and types with rich communications tools to unleash their productivity, while reducing their telecommunications costs. Following Skype Manager’s launch in May, we are very proud to add Skype Connect to our list of specially designed enterprise solutions. Skype Connect seeks to enable our customers to reduce their phone bills, while protecting their investment in existing telecommunications equipment.”

Since the launch of beta availability of the Skype Connect, the solution has attracted more than 2,400 active global customers; works with older TDM PBXs or Key Systems which can add Skype capabilities through IP gateways such as AudioCodes, Grandstream and VoSKY; and is now certified to work with PBX and UC products from Avaya, Cisco, SIPfoundry, ShoreTel (News - Alert) and other OEMs.

The Skype Manager is a simple, Web-based tool that allows IT managers to setup Skype Connect and control Skype usage in a company. New dedicated customer support offered in Skype Connect includes real-time chat and is available through Skype Manager.

Other important Skype news actually comes from Cisco (News - Alert). It appears the giant is interested in claiming Skype as its own. The company reportedly made a bid to purchase Skype, according to one of TechCrunch’s more reliable sources.

The news would be somewhat unexpected as Skype is currently in the process of completing its planned initial public offering. In order for Cisco to obtain Skype, they would need to agree to a deal before the company goes public. Yes, it is possible, but is it probable?