Skype is a cool little application. It allows you to make calls over the Internet for free to other Skype users and very cheaply to phones. Recent versions have included the ability to Skypecast (Skype with up to 100 people) and to video conference.
One of the major issues with Skype has always been that because it is a peer-to-peer program it can cause problems on networks – especially if it becomes a Supernode. Another issue with Skype is that it uses a proprietary protocol for its voip connections (as opposed to using an open protocol like SIP), thus no other programs can interact with and connect to Skype.
Now however, news is emerging from Asia that the Skype protocol has been hacked. Seemingly a Chinese company has hacked the protocol and are promising to come out with an application before the end of August which can connect to Skype and allow users to turn off Supernoding!
As Mike Arrington and Alec Saunders said:
But what they [Skype] should do is use this as an opportunity to open up the protocol and allow third party developers to build Skype compatible applications (under Skype’s terms).
What are the chances?
It’s always great when people who haven’t spent a cent developing & promoting a technology “recommend” that it be opened up.
I’ve been usig Skype for some time, but more and more I see its proprietary protocol as a stumbling block in moving to voip (waiting for Wimax is like waiting for Godot, perhaps). But I’ve had a look at Wengo http://www.wengo.com/ which is not only open source but looks very promising, describing itself as the “first universal software of its kind: multimedia, multi-platform and multi-protocol.”
Unfortunately I haven’t yet persuaded friends already on Skype to give it a go, though the call I made to a landline was crystal clear. Anyone tried it?
Sounds like the time has come to short eBay stock.
This may be of interest…
Skype library is a new, modern way to develop platform independent Skype add-on software.
Skype library | Ice Brains Software
http://www.icebrains-soft.com/skype_library_0
VoIP is definitely the future for telephony. Maybe even mobile phones will use it in the future, so international phone calls will be affordable :).
I am always when I see a discussion on VOIP. The product has been there for the last decade, but it seems has become a sexy phrase in the last year or two. Yes its a fantastic solution for residential telecoms, and it certainly has its place with large corporates with plenty of bandwidth, but is it a solution for SME’s & smaller corporates ?
Hi Paul, thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I would have thought as the director of a telecoms company which deals with mainly business clients you’d be in a far better position to answer this question!