tools

I'm in lust for the Minivox speakerphone - perfect size to go with your phone or laptop.

The $70 microtelPC desktop that comes with two VoIP solutions inside: Skype and Earthlink's SIP tool (thanks, Angelique).

Jybe: A free browser plug-in, "Jybe allows users to make Skype calls, share documents, and send invitations from Internet Explorer and Firefox." "You can now initiate a call to your Skype users directly from JYBE. Simply invite them from within JYBE and they will be automatically called and IM-ed to their Skype user name. They can now join your session instantly." The Skype API at work.

Geeking out

Great EE Times interview with Niklas Zennström if you're a phreak. "We're using different codecs for different circumstances. For instance, if you have a broadband connection, we are using one codec and if you have a narrowband connection, we are using another." Makes me want to whip out a fuzzy logic engine to optimize codec selection. Do you think the Skype client renegotiates codec choices mid-conversation? via El Contexto es Todo (es)

Skype's network has some serious flaws, including the inability to retire or recycle user IDs or to authenticate callers. If you're interested in this stuff, see Doc Searls' pile of links from Digital Identity World. (I missed the DIDW conference to take this picture. Cost of trip: $2000. Image of Jeff Pulver eating a sandwich in his conference room: priceless.)

How do people Skype?

• Priit, an Estonian exchange student in Shanghai, tells about getting Grandmother to use Skype.
• Home-bound blogger Skypes Phoenix police about noisy neighbors.
• InfoWorld's Chad Dickerson gave up Skypecasting:

  I've concluded that while Skype is really great for informal phone calls, using it as the platform for recorded interviews is simply ill-advised. I'm pretty sure this will be the last interview I do with Skype. Frankly, the people I'm interviewing (and planning to interview) are too busy to repeat the key moments that are ruined by Skype jitter/flutter and I feel like I'm insulting busy listeners if I force them to listen to garbled conversation (even when it is very sporadic). I haven't gotten any specific complaints about this from listeners or interviewees, it's just something that bugs me about the first two. This is one area where the Principle of Good Enough doesn't apply -- either you hear words clearly, or you don't.

• Man admits addiction to Skype, TiVo as gateway drug.
• Case study of hi-tech field sales organization using Skype on the road, saves money. (jp)

Will you be the first to register Skype.xxx? And could it be the next great VoIP business model?