Newsmaker: Skype: Interference on the line?

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anything beyond that? We think that SIP is not very good for end users.

But by using your own coding, don't you have trouble as a result interconnecting with the huge percentage of other Net phone operators that use SIP? Isn't Skype essentially walling in its users?
Zennström: Our position is that over time, we expect to interconnect to voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks directly, rather than using SIP and the PSTN.

The Federal Communications Commission recently said that Net phone operators must add 911 accompanied by a caller's location and call-back number. Will Skype comply?
Zennström: We believe the FCC decision is not directly applicable to Skype. But we feel that enhanced 911 services are a serious matter, and we're working through various industry organizations to edge the industry into offering not just 911, but all kinds of IP-based emergency services.

We believe the FCC decision is not directly applicable to Skype.

So at some point in the future, you feel Skype needs to add 911?
Zennström: Yes, but to what degree we don't know yet.

What are these new IP-based emergency services you're talking about?
Zennström: If there's a burglar in my home, maybe I send an e-mail or a text message to the police instead of making a call.

But you're focusing on the future. What about now? Could Skype meet the FCC mandate?
Zennström: With regards to location information? It's impossible for anyone like ourselves to supply that information. It's not technically feasible.

What's the problem?
Zennström: We have no knowledge of the geographic location of anyone's IP address.

If asked to comply, how could Skype do it then?
Zennström: There needs to be a database which maps IP addresses to geographical locations. There are some out there now doing geo-mapping, but the databases are not exhaustive enough.

Skype has indicated its next hardware effort involves essentially making mobile Skype phones. How's that effort going?
Zennström: We're working with several manufacturers, like Motorola, on things like a Wi-Fi handset. You'll also see handsets that can get Skype calls over Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

What's the rationale for a wireless operator to sell such a handset? Doesn't it eat into their profits every time somebody uses Skype to make a call instead of their network?
Zennström: The operators make money off a Skype call because Skype calls will run over their networks. They get the traffic.  

More Newsmakers

Skype

And what's with charging for a minute if the connection lasts 6 seconds or somesuch.

Poor Quality with Skype

I think the idea of Skype is fantastic and it is also very affordable. However the quality of the call is so poor that it is extremely hard working having a conversation. I use Skype in Australia to call a landline in Italy. I am going to abandon using Skype until the quality gets better. I currently have a fast Brodband connection.

[Philips]

Bad luck.

Bad luck. My friends are using extensively SkypeOut to
call from Germany to Belarus and quality is
considerably much better.

I think in your case, you are hitting the latencies
problems: most of the locations in Europe I have tried
has terribly high latencies when connection goes to
Japan (primary interest), Oceania & Australia. Half
second to second delays seems norm of life. So I
expect that your latencies from Australia to Europe will
be high as well.

This is where Internet providers save money: Asia<-
>Europe traffic is very limited - different languages/
cultures - so channels are very narrow and thin. And
Australia - I believe - belong geographically to Asia.

[Stating]

Bandwidth Is Shared, That's The Problem

Skype's advantage of saving capital by not having to build their own network also seems to be their Achilles Heel. Everyone who uses Skype shares a potion of their network bandwidth to contribute to a bandwidth pool. This is why Skype doesn't need to have their own VoIP infrastructure -- hence they can offer a free or low cost service. The problem seems to be that because this is a peer-to-peer network the quality of service (QOS) varies a lot. That's OK if you are simply swapping files around (like BitTorrent). But it is a disaster for real-time voice and video communications.

SKYPE IS EVIL ...... look why

Hi you seems to think that skype works without any server .... NO : as SIP , or IAX , it needs a directory of users !! try to use skype without being connected to the net ... you will have nothing ... WHat skype has done was already done in terms of quality and easy by IAX but SIP has problems with NAT .... Consider trying real telephony please check the truth on www.voip-info.org THANKS ... the only thing I have against skype is their proprietary protocol ...

[Johnny Mnemonic]

You do not understand VoIP

VoIP runs on the IP network. That is the internet,
which by definition is shared. Most VoIP vendors
do not own the network that they provide services
over. Skype is simply a proprietary protocol
running on the IP network which uses a P2P model.
This actually allows for better sound quality.
Ofcourse it requires peers in order to function,
but this is good in my opinion as the network is
not controlled centrally. It is also encrypted, which
is far better then the other VoIP vendors. Once
they have a larger base of POTS providers offering
skype relays, the sound for skype to pots and pots
to skype will improve. Skype to Skype will always
be best in terms of sound quality and security.

[badrot]

Visionary Stuff!

Sorry to say, there may be customer service problems with Skype, but the bigger story is how Skype is already shaking the establishment. Too bad the interview did not touch on that!

With the introduction of Skypeln, Skype is hitting the market with two major disruptive features:
1- they have already enabled the ability for a single (mobile) phone unit (in this case, a pocket PC running Skype) to be on the receiving end of multiple international phone numbers.
2- In many cases, they have effectively made incoming roaming free, another disruptive feature.

As an example, I have a US and French number that I use on my trips to Romania free of any roaming charges. And by the way, my connections have always been pretty good!

If anything is true, the telco should really pay attention; there are bundles of new features and services they would need to roll out to compete effectively. The next couple of years will be very interesting for the least. Can?t wait!

Skype problem

Skype works good on PC to PC connection ,but the PC to phone connection is pathetic at the momemt,
Works well for first 5 minutes then the problem starts , there is staggering of voice and sometimes the voice is played faster then the speed of speaking.Even with the best network speeed. Skype provides good deal at the moment on landline but calls to mobile phone are way costlier atleast for rates to Switzerland.Need improvement in quality.

[ayazici]

A great service

Costs to cell phones are not a Skype created problem. From ANY phone, when you dial in to a foreigh cell phone, you pay a higher price. For example, from my US based carrier, a call to a landline number in Turkey costs $0.19 while one to a cell number will cost $0.40. Skype is doing a great job by bringing a desruptive Internet application.

Happy with Skype

I am an occasional user of all 3 of Skype?s services, PC to PC, SkypeOut and SkypeIn. I am very pleased with the quality in general. The main issue is with SkypeOut, where voice quality is bad as often as it is good. SkypeIn is phenomenal and my friends and I are amazed at the voice quality and technology of it every time we use it. I have a Chicago number that rings on my PCs in Spain.

My main concern with Skype is the lack of SIP interconnectivity. As a corporate IT guy reading about various Open Source PBX projects, it?s sad to think that Skype won?t be able to fit in somewhere.

[jamie.p.walsh]

Why can't VOIP be paired with GPS?

I understand that GPS is a separate service, but you'd think that this would be a no brainer in convergence. Sure, GPS service and device pricing is a barrier, but with market pressures, it would surely drop rapidly. Both services stand to benefit greatly. GPS is great, but the added value is what can be layered on top of it. If VOIP wants to truly compete with POTS, they need location based services--ESPECIALLY 911. Cellular triangulation is no exact science and to some extent neither is GPS. GPS, however, DOES do better at location. A directory service doesn't provide worth in a mobile society in terms of location.

In short, some cross investment between GPS, Cellular, and VOIP businesses would be a giant leap toward relieving the consumer of the stranglehold of the antiquated POTS.

[pettydeb]

Something has to be done about Skype

In November of 2006 I ordered Skype service and payment cleared on December 5, 2006 through bank transfer. I never received my service so I had requested a refund. Over the past 3 months customer service has told me the refund is being processed over and over again. I look on the skype forums and it is filled with refund requests and customers not getting service, nor refunds. It appears to me from my experience and research that Skype is cashing in on not providing service and not refunding money. I have requested from Skype information on how to file a formal complaint but they have not provided me with this information. Its ashame, it is not a large amount but if you multiply it by the amount of people not receiving refunds, and the time they are waiting if they ever do receive a refund, Skype is making out on ill-gotten money. Good scheme they got going there.