The web 2.0 meme map, from a foo camp presentation by Bill O'Reilly.

Skype's Choice by Gordon Cook for Strategy+Business magazine. Published pre-eBay deal, Cook explores the tension between users of this wild software network and enterprise IT managers who want control; but who are unlikely to get it.

Andy Abramson blogs tidbits from his talk with Skype's new CMO, Saul Klein. A summer survey of IM users,... ... continue reading.....

Veli Hazar is building a directory of businesses in Turkey that use Skype to talk with customers. This fills a useful language/geography niche. People always look for businesses that speak their language and use their favorite communication channels. This behavior drove the workplace adoption of the telegraph, the telephone, the fax machine, and email.

Directories like Konush.net will become obsolete if they only focus on Skype. Large existing directories continue to... ... continue reading.....

Imagine multi-user video conferencing for any IM client: Yahoo, Skype, MSN, ICQ, you name it. That is what I tested with developer Ashod Apakian at WigiWigi yesterday.

This program is not ready for prime time. Unless you are a real geek I would wait a couple of weeks before downloading. So why bring the topic up? I think this opens up a fascinating way to deliver media content.

It works like this. I install... ... continue reading.....

In the FCC September 23, 2005 Notice of Proposed Rule Making the Introduction says it all:

In this Order, we conclude that the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) applies to facilities-based broadband Internet access providers and providers of interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. This Order is the first critical step to apply CALEA obligations to new technologies and services that are increasingly relied upon by the American public to meet their...

I couldn't resist going to the session on IMS, the telecom industry's purported salvation.

As might be expected, I've expressed some strong opinions on IMS previously. I'm always open to learn more and refine those opinions. Yesterday there was a good, educative session once you stripped away the slideware.

For those unfamiliar with IMS, the basic story is this: The old phone network has a media component that reaches your phone's... ... continue reading.....

Skype released a major version of their software for Windows today, Version: 1.4.0.71. Download. Big features for users:

• Call forwarding
  
• Accessibility improvements to the contact list
  
• 26 new or updated language files (Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese Brazilian, Hebrew, Russian, Polish,...

Richard Stastny ponders one of the mysteries of voice telephony: given Microsoft holds such a strong hand, how come they haven’t come to dominate consumer real-time communications. Or in Richard’s own words:

There is only one big question mark: Microsoft. Basically nobody understands why MS is not able to really play a role here: they have the [Real Time Communicator], they had the MS messenger, they have direct access to enterprises via MS Exchange,...

We publish the Skype Journal Guide to Skype's Plug-In Architecture. One of the exercises is building a voice mail system using the Skype API, in about an hour. If you're handy that way, check out Tom's Networking's How To: Asterisk Answering Machine. Nicely done.

I'm lusting for a midget-sized usb speaker-phone. The minivox 100 comes close, especially at a US$40... ... continue reading.....

Skype Night in California, Sheraton Hotel, Palo Alto. Thursday, September 22, 2005

At an event like this, the people you meet, far out value the presentations. It is all about schmooozing.

A special highlight for me was meeting face-to-face with two of the top techies from Tallinn. I have communicated with them since 2003. Being able to share a beer with them was a special treat. Senior Developer Jaan Tallinn (yup, in this... ... continue reading.....

Logitech has announced a new family of webcams. I accepted an invitation to visit Logitech while I was in Palo Alto for Skype Night in California last week.

Karen Hoskins, a Public Relations Specialist at Logitech kindly hosted my visit. She hooked me up with Andrew Heymann, Senior Product Marketing Manager and Todd Hernandez, Software Marketing Dude.

I can best sum up the demo with this... ... continue reading.....

Skype's Future with eBay
Yi-Tan Weekly Tech Call #52
Monday, September 26, 2005

Skype's been bought by -- eBay? It surprised us, too, but there may be some method in this madness, says our guest host Stuart Henshall, creator of the Skype Journal and perennial VoIP and presence expert. With Stuart, we'll ponder the eBay -PayPal-Skype platform, addressing questions such as:

* How should we value Skype? What is... ... continue reading.....

What’s wrong with video conferencing?

The usual answer is that we don’t have our makeup on straight and pick our noses during conference calls, and don’t want this stuff broadcast and recorded.

I think the answer is simpler. There’s nothing to point at!

Without having something to gesticulate at — other participants, a diagram, the window — you’re left limp and lifeless. So perhaps there’s a Superman-style blue backdrop screen type of technology that can... ... continue reading.....

Skype plus eBay equals conversational markets

By Stuart Henshall
Published: September 21 2005 03:00 | Last updated: September 21 2005 03:00

From Stuart Henshall of skypejournal.com.

What's the developer's view of the Skype/eBay deal? What are the new opportunities? From a telecommunications industry perspective is there less to fear or more?

Let me lay out the prize that Skype developers are playing for and...

Has VON lost its sense of direction? Have two events 1) the purchase of Skype by eBay and 2) the aftermath of Katrina reframed the market... Yesterday I thought so. VON presenters found it difficult to find their footing. Presentations had seen hasty revisions from Jeff Pulver's "Summer of Transformation" to Brad Garlinghouse's reference to "pink elephants". However, there was no answer to what next and what the rallying cry should be.... ... continue reading.....

I just wanted to share my thoughts about this post from yesterday.

I took the photo in an event that was publicized to reporters and attendees of the Boston VON conference. So this was neither an invitation only or private meeting.

There was at least one reporter from another VoIP publication in the room, moderating the conversation. And there were at least three bloggers from other publications in attendance, perhaps as many as... ... continue reading.....

PowerGramo records your Skype calls automatically. I used an earlier version and it was easy and convenient. (any podcasters listening?) Apparently free, for now. CORRECTION: It is trialware: US$19.50 after a seven day trial.

Skype Journal begged Skype to share their near term product roadmap with independent developers. Recently they've started to do just that, in private forums for their beta developers, at meetings of their developers' advisory board, and last night at their "Skype Night" for developers meeting at VON Boston. Normal caveats: everything is subject to change, we don't know what the new feature names really mean, and this all comes out for Windows first.

Publish your SkypeIn numbers though List Yourself. It lists your number in databases used by directory assistance operators in 23 countries. To the operators, this will be just another number for you.

While you're at it, be sure to add your SkypeIn numbers to the US National Do Not Call Registry. (foil those telemarketers).

Can Skype be a gateway to a PBX? Skype 2 PBX?

Here is a scenario posed to me by a Canadian company.

A company has four offices each with a local PBX. These PBXs are interconnected via SIP. (Of course the PBXs could have been interconnected with Skype, but that would be a boring story.)

This company would like to have any remote Skype Client have access to the corporate telephone infrastructure and as well,... ... continue reading.....

Alec Saunders has done a bang up job of covering a bunch of VON sessions; nearly like being here (and I am).

Cynthia on the IP Democracy Forum posts: VoIP: Too Soon to Say "Stop the Madness," But.....

IP Drum is promoting its Mobile Skype Cable. You can make your own, but why bother?

AOL's TotalTalk launches, first comments by Tom Keating. PingTel Inside. Russell Shaw says "What... ... continue reading.....

At least for an hour, while Tallinn tried to set up a working Skype video call. Other speakers started early. By the time Zennström came on, it was audio only. They projected the VON logo for a while, then put up a photo they grabbed from Niklas' bio. Few showed interest in what this SIP-heathen, soon to be... ... continue reading.....

How would you like a multi-line 800 number? Just about for free. Maybe multiple 800 numbers placed in strategic geographical places around the globe for your customers to call you for free and you pay all most nothing.

If you have a SkypeIn account and the latest Skype 4 Windows beta with Call Forwarding then you already have that 800 number! 1.4.0.56 (get it here)
Yes, you read correctly... one SkypeIn... ... continue reading.....

1. Do you believe consumer acceptance of Skype-like softphones signals a broader change in consumer expectations?

2. What do you think those expectations will look like in 2008?

3. How long do you believe it will take for those expectations to filter through to enterprise customers? to the industries that serve them?

4. Skype had to muddle through with very little capital. Do you think eBay's infusion of capital will make Skype more competitive or less?

5. Skype's...

This is Voice over the Net week. It will be a newsy week. Stuart, Phil and Martin will be attending VON Boston. Niklas Z. will deliver the keynote as usual. I will be attending Skype Night in California. Yes, Niklas Z. will be delivering the welcome address there too. An interesting week; lots for a blogger’s plate. Stay tuned-in to Skype Journal. We have many informative posts to keep you Skypelanders at the leading edge.

What should VON goers really be concerned about? If you are headed there to secure the latest in VoIP equipment, then how safe is that investment strategy? In what context should you be thinking?

I sense there are at least 10 things we won’t learn much about at VON. They could be very important. Weak signals from other industries and simple usage and behavioral data that is standing straight in front of our... ... continue reading.....

A totally non-actionable, useless, pie-in-the-sky thought.

Old fashioned desk phones are a bit like thin-client web terminals. A limited set of UI functions are communicated to a central, smart server. Management costs are minimised as a result.

The stupid network wants to invert all of this, and make the edges smart. When the telephony application is in a state of rapid flux, replacing a $100 device with a new, smarter $100 device is much less... ... continue reading.....