Stuart Henshall

Skype Software Add-on Picks

July 22, 2005 06:10 PM

Topics: Business | Developer Zone | Life | Skype Partner Watch | software

Skype Journal LabsHere is my pick of five SkypeAPI enabled products that can really change how Skype works for you. Better call answering, new call forwarding and video solutions. Plus enhanced collaborative desktop sharing and a way to silence your iTunes.

I apologize in advance to Mac users. This really is a Windows list.

Five Software Winners:

    1. Pamela-Systems Pro

    This is the Swiss Army Knife for Skype. From answer machine to call recorder and automatic podcasting this solution provides a range of ways to personalize how you answer callers, what messages people get when you are away, etc. It is a great complement to an always-on Skype PC. Even for just a few of the features you can hardly quibble about the price. Cost: Euro 17.50.

    2. Video4IM

    Spontania's solution, still in beta, hasn't yet always provided me with an unpixelated cam image. The most important aspect is how this program makes video calling easy. You can even set it so it connects as soon as a Skype call from another Spontania user comes in. Provide the personalization functionality like Pamela has and Id have auto video calls with my favorite buddies. At the moment no one makes it easier or faster to launch a video call. Thats going to be a behavior changer. Cost: Free

    3. Jyve Web Tools

    Two big things. Forward calls you don't want to miss (Skype is working on this now) and the solution for making all your directory listings come to life. Yep are you online or off-line. It the world in which wikis and blogs share your presence info. More importantly, Jyve's created a standard to enabling chat messages off any website. If you have Jyve installed then you can text them on Skype directly from their blog or profile on a dating site.

    4. Jybe Collaboration Tool

    I know it sounds like Jyve but they are completely different. Jybe enables sharing everything quick and easily. Share word documents, PowerPoint, hey simply share MS Office online. Thats cools that brings accelerated desktop sharing to work while in chat video and voice calls on Skype. I only have one reservation at the moment. The beta version is not encrypted. Thus use your head. I am sure an encrypted version is in the works. Cost: Free.

    5. MiTunes

    Who can Skype and not want automated muting of their iTunes? I know some would like it in the call to. Still when a call comes in muting iTunes helps when you do not have a separate USB headset or second sound card. Its just a simple program. Not very elegant when you first boot it. Then it runs in the background. If you like iTunes, and Skype you should get it. Cost: Free.

There are other software solutions and other options. Few integrate with the SkypeAPI like these do. It's not surprising that software solutions really begin to use and extend concepts for the API. However, Skype's original purpose was to create a range of "hardware" solutions and collect a royalty. Phone, handsets and devices that would plug-into Skype. The best executions of those are the Olympia Dualphone and CyberPhoneK. While devices like the Actiontec work, they don't really harness the power of the SkypeAPI.

These are the fruits of small developer teams that lead the way to Skype's future. They are the "software" offspring from the initial Skype API products not envisaged by Skype. They've helped generate discussion, user interest and have helped define Skype changing developer direction. Downloads range from a few thousand to 100's of thousands. For some to work, both you and your buddies must have them. So share the news and use them.




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Skype Journal has a list of the Top 5 Skype Software Add-ons. It has to tell you something when representatives of four of the five mentioned software makers comment on the entry. Keeping an active watchlist for the name of [Read More]

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Comments

Posted by: Brian Hoogendam at July 22, 2005 9:22 PM

Stuart,
Thanks for the mention of Jybe. I did want to point out that our next version of Jybe will be coming out soon and will be encrypted for all traffic. Keep up the great work. We need to connect next week to discuss our future plans for Jybe - I think you may find it interesting.
Best Regards,
Brian

Posted by: Dick Schiferli at July 23, 2005 12:16 PM

Stuart, thanks for mentioning Pamela Professional as the number 1 add-on for Skype! Its been hard work (special thanks to all beta testers and translators!) and a great ride till now.
I have plans for a lot of additional functions. Like IVR (Interactive Voice Response), website SkypeAudioBlogging with IVR support, XML-RPC support for podcasting and much much more. Will contact you soon to discuss what else you would think the Skype community requires.

Cheers!

Dick Schiferli

Posted by: Charles Carleton at July 23, 2005 6:20 PM

Thanks Stuart for including Jyve in your list.

I especially liked your comment where you call the 5 in the list the: "software" offspring from the initial Skype API products not envisaged by Skype.

I think I can speak for all of us by saying that up till recently, we have felt more like the illegitimate offspring of the Skype API. But things seem to be improving and Skype is coming around.

We hope that our latest web tools will stimulate discussion and encourage Skype to step up it's development of Skype web features.

We will continue to provide products and services to help further “Skype enable the web” as well as bring a richer web experience to Skype users.

Charles
Founder/CEO
www.Jyve.com
Come join the Skype community!

Posted by: Mario Silva at July 26, 2005 5:05 AM

Thanks a lot Stuart for considering spontania video4im.

Thanks also to all the users that are contributing to make video4im possible. We really appreciate their feedback as part of the most important source of next versions inspiration.

We will keep working on having new and cool features included on next video4im versions.


Mario Silva
video4im product manager
Dialcom Networks
www.dialcom.com

Posted by: Kiran at July 26, 2005 6:15 AM

Stuart,
Good list...you might also want to take a look at InstaColl (http://share.skype.com/directory/instacoll_-_peer-to-peer_document_collaboration/view/) which offers users the ability to securely collaborate on their Microsoft Office documents in their native data formats from right within Word/Excel/Powerpoint while simultaneously conducting a Skype voice call (no need to convert these documents to HTML and use a browser to view the same - which would in any case not allow you to make edit changes).
Kiran

Posted by: newkai [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 26, 2005 10:56 AM

Actually, as far I know, The MAC Autodialer is the only Skype Extra for the Mac. :-(

http://share.skype.com/directory/mac_autodialer_for_skype/view/

Posted by: Hans Blaauw at July 28, 2005 6:04 AM

Thanks Stuart for being on 5 with MiTunes.

Posted by: kamran at September 29, 2005 1:32 PM

i want chat and see cam and meet by skpe so i add me

Posted by: steven marcus at November 5, 2005 6:37 AM

what about free ,i mean free net to fon? i hear an israeli company will offer this. You listen to a 25 sec messege then clik on the keyboard digit they tell you to clik on. You have heard their ad so your call is free ...up to 15 minutes call with each ad. but u can make more calls whenever but each callis 15 minutes net to fon or to cell... skype into this?

Posted by: hesham alathwari at March 11, 2006 8:48 AM

Please send me latest skype version to my email address because i have restriction software in our network (WEBSENSE) that prevents me from downloading it ...that will be highly appreciated

Posted by: amir at March 23, 2006 12:01 PM

ChatAgents now offers a complete Offshore Call Center solution with
fully integrated voice, chat, and email support. Simply forward your
inbound calls to our call center, or integrate us with your existing PBX

Posted by: Call Center Services at April 7, 2006 12:38 PM

ChatAgents now offers a complete Offshore Call Center solution with fully integrated voice, chat, and email support. Simply forward your inbound calls to our call center, or integrate us with your existing PBX

Posted by: neurosis at May 17, 2006 8:39 AM

Hi, We are trying to find a way to hold a skype conference that we can broadcast to a shoutcast server to use for a streaming radio station. We are having trouble getting the output of skype to go to the input of the shoutcast server. We tried holding the broadcaster mic up to the speakers but that turned out horribly as can be imagined.

Is there any plugin for skype to allow this? We also tried using Sams Broadcaster (awesome tool) but we cannot get the output of skype to go into the input of sams broadcaster (which is then sent from there to the shoutcast server)... anyone having any ideas on how we can accomplish this please let us know @ neurosis@neuroticnetworks.com

thanks :)

Posted by: pkerdiles at June 2, 2006 4:03 AM

Hello,
Still seeking an application sharing plugin or skype compliant app.
We want to share excel sheets or desktops.

Sybe seemed cool but seems project has been stoped (?).
The pluggin doesn't want to integrate with skype 2.5

Posted by: sashi at September 11, 2006 7:07 PM

aslo PrettyMay offers call recording function for Skype,easy to use.

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