'Net Features : voip

Skype for Business – Let’s Connect

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:52:00 GMT

Skype formally announced the launch of Skype Connect 1.0 (formely Skype for SIP).

Straight out of beta, Skype Connect delivers a solution that enables IP-enabled private branch exchange (PBX) or Unified Communications (UC) systems to connect to Skype. With nearly 2500 active global customers, it is certainly poised to be a viable option for small and medium sized businesses.

Skype Connect users are able to make outbound calls from their desktop phones to landlines and mobile devices at a per-minute calling rate, and receive inbound calls from Skype connected users by placing the Click & Call buttons on websites. Users will also be able to receive calls from landlines or mobile phones in the corporate PBX using Skype’s online numbers (purchased separately).

“Our team’s goal is to empower businesses of all sizes and types with rich communications tools to unleash their productivity, while reducing their telecommunications costs. Following Skype Manager’s launch in May, we are very proud to add Skype Connect to our list of specially designed enterprise solutions. Skype Connect seeks to enable our customers to reduce their phone bills, while protecting their investment in existing telecommunications equipment,” said David Gurlé, VP and general manager of Skype for Business.

Skype’s New Click-to-Call

Pete Prestipino — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:51:00 GMT

Click-to-call just got a major boost and taken a big step towards legitimate use in business.

Skype is rolling out a click-to-call product in a partnership announced today with European Directories, a geographic-focused lead generation group operating in the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Gibraltar and Slovakia.

The partnership between Skype and European Directories will offer consumers free calls to up to 700,000 businesses across Europe. Participating European Directories advertisers will have the opportunity to be highlighted with Skype’s blue “Free Call” button anywhere their number appears on the internet. The new product offering is funded by the businesses participating.

“This partnership is a great example of our evolution from a print centric company to one truly focused on lead generation. By working with Skype, European Directories can now offer its advertisers leads from yet another source in addition to existing channels such as mobile applications, print publications, our own online search sites and those of our partners. The new Skype ‘Free Call’ button will turn search for businesses into calls and leads for businesses. It will make our advertisers stand out from competition everywhere on the internet, including in search engines,” said Cornel Riklin, CEO of European Directories.

Stay up to date on the latest Internet trends:
Request a professional subscription to Website Magazine,
the most popular print publication on Web success.

eBay Removes Skype Links in UK

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:34:00 GMT

By now you've heard that eBay hopes to spin off its VoIP solution Skype. While Skype certainly has a future, it's clear that its future has nothing to do with eBay.

eBay has never been pleased with the division's capacity to turn a profit and based on a message to UK sellers this week, eBay is speeding the entire process of ending its support of the product.

"eBay is discontinuing Skype voice and chat buttons in listings as of 10th June 2009 in an effort to remove features with limited buyer and seller usage," according to the formal announcement. eBay sellers are not required to take any action. eBay users will no longer see the Skype voice and chat options new items are listed and they will not be included on the new item page or on your existing listings.

Eliminating Skype entirely is a dramatic departure from the excitement that eBay initially felt. A quote during the acquisition of Skype back in 2005 from then CEO Meg Whitman tells the story; “Communications is at the heart of e-commerce and community. By combining the two leading e-commerce franchises, eBay and PayPal, with the leader in internet voice communications, we will create an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the net.” Seemed to makes sense to many, but is now a significant departure from the viewpoint of current eBay President & CEO John Donahoe who was recently said that “it is clear that Skype has limited synergies with eBay and PayPal.”

Request a Professional-Level Membership from Website Magazine
Order today and save over 50% off the newstand price!

VoIP - GrandCentral becomes Google Voice

MaureenA — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:26:00 GMT

Google relaunched its VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service GrandCentral as Google Voice.

Purchased by Google in July 2007, GrandCentral clients have been able to use the VoIP solution despite Google not doing much with it during the past two years. But it looks like they had a plan all along. It's more apparent than ever that Google's goal is to meet the needs of small business owners with e-mail, document management and now VoIP. Over the years, Google has been building a platform that is very business-centric and perhaps now even more appealing.

Google Voice offers all the same capabilities that were available under the original GrandCentral name: call forwarding, conferencing and recording. However, Google has made some noticeable improvements. New features include: voicemail transcription into SMS (text) or e-mails that can be viewed on a PC or mobile phone; search and archive of all SMS that were sent or received; directory assistance with GOOG-411; and the ability to screen voicemails by listening live as the person leaves the message.

Should you sign up? If you're not currently a GrandCentral customer you may have to wait. Google will be offering the VoIP service to current GrandCentral users first, and to other customers in the near future.