Skype-link feature considerations |
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dpctech don't get me wrong. I am not disagreeing with you, on the popularity of Skype, or on the better voice quality in the majority of the calls.
These are the advantages of an optimized proprietary solution, such as Skype. The price we pay for such optimization is the lack of compatibility with anything else out there.
As I mentioned in my original reply there have been multiple solutions to achieve this for some time, including these:
• http://www.nch.com.au/skypetosip/
• http://www.chanskype.com/
• http://www.rsdevs.com/psgw.shtml
All of them require running an application on your PC, which should be in top shape for the interconnection to work properly. That in addition to the availability of a good Internet connection, which is a prerequisite for any VoIP call.
Having said that, the primary reason most of us have chosen a hosted PBX platform over our own TrixBox, is to avoid running Asterisk on our PCs, maintaining it across power outages, unreliable domestic broadband connections, applying updates and security fixes etc. What Pascal is doing is a full time occupation.
Now considering that, for every inbound Skype call to properly ring your phone, as well as for every outgoing call towards a Skype user, your PC at home will have to fulfill the role of a dedicated gateway. This implies that, every user of the Skype-link feature, has to assume the burden of troubleshooting and supporting it, over and above a mere "it doesn't work" post in this forum, since the PC will be physically in his or her house.
If the above is an acceptable proposition, then Pascal needs to weigh in on whether it can be added as a feature in PBXes. So whoever is interested for this, should post a message.
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