Skype Enterprise Installation
Following our articles on our Skype installations?
I continue to receive quite a few questions on the integration of Skype, how it is being used in Canada, and what benefits are we seeing from the integration.
I wanted to provide further information on the installation and see if I could answer a few more of these questions.
Skype Connect for Business
Our first step was to create an account with Skype Connect: the one web-based tool to manage Skype in with your business.
Second step was to Buy Access from Skype(basically trunks or SIP Sessions). Skype charges on a per session basis, and requires you to prepay for this access. Here is an example, and where you start to see some costs savings take place:
- For a Skype Session its $7.95 / session which is basically 1Channel, or equivalent to 1 channel in a PRI. To break out some costing here - 7.95 x 24 (PRI)* = $190.80 vs a full PRI from a Carrier which depending on where you are located (or tarrif’d) pricing could $600 to $1000/month.
$190.80 for 24 Sessions from Skype which is the equivalent to 1 PRI vs. $600 – $1000/month from a Carrier!?
With just these first few steps you begin to see the costs savings that Skype Connect can provide.
After we and configure your PBX and enable the Skype sessions Your business can then take advantage of making calls at Skype’s great low rates. You can also receive Skype calls for free from anywhere in the world, giving your customers, colleagues and contacts more ways to get in touch.
Here is an example of on such use/installation (and yes the Combat guy in fatigues did all the work on this one, so I am giving him credit)
- Skype’s global calling rates offer potential cost savings when calling landlines and mobile phones. More importantly, Skype Connect enables the Skype community to call you directly from Skype or via a Skype button at no cost to them (businesses will need to ensure that they have sufficient Skype Connect calling channels). By using this feature, you can extend your presence to reach millions of people using Skype worldwide
- You can empower your workforce with Skype while integrating Skype’s rich functionality with your SIP-enabled PBX (CS1k, AURA, Avaya CM etc.). Using Skype Connect, Skype’s 520m+ registered user community could contact your business for free by using Skype via Skype buttons, by calling business account Skype Names associated with your SIP-enabled PBX, and by dialing any Online Numbers you may have bought.
- The maximum number of simultaneous channels you can use for Skype Connect is restricted to 300 per SIP Profile. A company may have multiple SIP Profiles if it wishes.
- Caller ID is supported for Online Numbers provided by Skype. Landline numbers can also be used as Caller ID so long as the numbers are owned and controlled by you and your company identity has been verified by Skype. If you don’t set up Caller ID, “Unknown number” will be displayed when you make an outbound call using Skype Connect.
- Skype Connect will send you both the Online Number and Caller ID in the SIP messages so you can easily map incoming calls within your SIP-enabled PBX
Skype Connect Features
There is alot of information here helping to understand some of the major cost savings provided by a solutions such as this. For any other information, please keep your questiosn comming in via the comments section below or contact me directly.
*Yes i know that there are 23 channels in a PRI and one for data but i am assuming you have multiple PRIs, and thus can use all 24 channels on your secondly and tertiary PRIs
About Adam DaCosta
I thoroughly enjoy technology and in particular communication technology. Unification of voice, video and data, and how technology can enable and provide users and organizations the ability to communicate more effectively. Connect with me through this blog, Twitter(@adamdacosta) or Check out my about.me profile!, I look forward to hearing from you!