Stuart Henshall

Skylook Outlook Integration

August 5, 2005 02:36 PM

Topics: Products | Skype API | Skype Partner Watch | privacy | software

For the last few days I've been trying out Skylook an Outlook integration that works with Skype. It's an effective integration, enabling easy chat and voice calling from Outlook while adding additional features not seen with other Outlook plugins for Skype. Eg Look2Skype, and Skype's own Outlook solution.

The benefits:

Archiving:
Skylook will automatically archive your chats into Outlook. It creates a folder Skype conversations and then records each session separately. I had hoped this would then be picked up by Google desktop search, however so far I've not been able to search them. Still the archiving feature is important. The downside - there are no real archiving controls. Topics, folders by person, etc. Additional work is also required for formatting.

Recording:
Skylook enables full recording and thus archiving of all conversations again into Outlook. The recording is effective and archived as an MP3. Skylook doesn't act as an answer machine, and while it provides warning when setting it to record all calls, you cannot control this on a record by record basis.

Message Forwarding:
Having the Skype records in Outlook makes forwarding a chat conversation or call easy. Simply forward as you would any email.

Presence:
Connecting to another Skyper is simple with click to call and chat options. Current online status is visible.

This product has not been Skype certified.

Overall an effective integration that goes further than others I've seen. Also a plus - it hasn't yet crashed my Outlook. On the reservations side I didn't like the privacy and profiling information that I viewed when I downloaded it. It said too much about cookies and gathering information for me to be comfortable. So while I've tested it, I'm uncomfortable about the data it said it may be collecting. So after testing it for one more day I'm going to restore my sytem to an earlier time. It doesn't yet have my trust. It will cost you money after 14 days.




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Posts linking to Skylook Outlook Integration:

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» Lookout, it's Skylook and man does it rock! from The Desert Skies Blog
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Tracked on May 19, 2006 9:21 PM

Comments

Posted by: Jirong Zhou [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 5, 2005 7:07 PM

Hi Stuart,

I also have Outlook plugin, Avantlook, for Skype. It also supports Archiving Skype chat, not recording. Would you have a try? I wait for your feedbacks.

http://www.zalbazone.com/blog/article.asp?id=13

My Skype ID is jirongzhou


Regards
Jirong Zhou

Posted by: Paul Andrews at August 6, 2005 2:35 AM

Hi Stuart,

I am one of the authors of Skylook.

Thanks for the review.

I was a little concerned by your finishing remark, and I wonder if you could provide clarification?

We ask for Name and email address on registration (this is handled by Protexis merchant services - the provider affiliated with CNET and download.com). We also send a periodic HTTP GET to our server to check for version updates - no information is sent in this request.

Apart from this we do not collect any data or create any cookies, so I am not sure what you mean. It is possible Protexis is doing other stuff that I am not aware of, and if they are I am keen to find out so that I can talk to them about it.

Could you please describe in more detail what occurred?

Thanks and Regards,
Paul Andrews

Posted by: Jan van der Reis at August 6, 2005 4:28 PM

Skylook crashes Outlook if u use win 2000 pro and outlook 2000. Bought it but had to uninstall it....

Posted by: Paul Andrews at August 7, 2005 5:31 AM

Hi Jan,

You contacted us through our support channel and we have responded and are looking into this for you. We do support this combination and will get it working for you.

Regards,
Paul

Posted by: Stuart Henshall at August 7, 2005 10:42 AM

Paul, Thanks for the clarification. I still felt pretty uncomfortable when installing I clicked the links to http://www.protexis.com/solutions/registration.htm and then read their privacy policy etc. I'm not sure what they are doing. For you I'm sure it enables simpler downloads etc. I'm highly protective of my personal data and for that of my contacts. I felt like I took a risk when I downloaded it. My suggestion will be to get another solution that makes sure "trust" is established in a highly credible manner. From what I've seen the product works well. I'd still like some more options.

Posted by: Diana at May 6, 2006 6:09 PM

Hi Paul,

I loaded skylook to my computer yesterday and it too is crashing my machine...... I really like what the product does and think we are well on the way to making everything very funky out there but I don't get why it would crash outlook 2000

Thanks for the invetion though love and keep updating it

Diana

Posted by: Diana at May 6, 2006 7:04 PM

Hi Paul,

I loaded skylook to my computer yesterday and it too is crashing my machine...... I really like what the product does and think we are well on the way to making everything very funky out there but I don't get why it would crash outlook 2000

Thanks for the invetion though love and keep updating it

Diana

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