Stay tuned 
Stay tuned
We’re looking for businesses like yours to share their experiences with us at Skype. We’re looking for creativity and originality – companies which use Skype in innovative ways around the world to save time, save money or stay ahead, and preferably a combination of the three.
If that sounds like your business, then we want to hear from you. Enter now to ensure you don’t miss out.
For the best stories, we’ll be awarding first, second and third prizes in three regions – EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific – details are in the original blog post.
Entries must be received before the 15th June 2009 UK time – we look forward to receiving yours
In their continual drive to improve our products they’d like to visit your premises for half a day and conduct interviews with a selection of Skype users and decision makers, and observe how Skype is used in your business. Data collected will be strictly confidential and not shared or used for any purposes other than improving Skype for Business.
Your feedback has the potential to influence design changes, new features and product offerings. We’ll also offer compensation of €200 of Skype Credit (or equivalent in Pounds Sterling) for your time.
If you’re interested in participating please complete this form.
]]>I spoke earlier at Interop Las Vegas about the future of modern business communications. Read on for an summary of my presentation.
IT is consumerizing – over the last 5 years, we’ve seen
driven primarily by these factors:
Skype is a great example – we started out as a consumer product, but now 35% of our users say they use Skype for business purposes. *
The key, however, is that saving money is just the start – you can use Skype to save time, and most importantly, stay ahead.
The Skype for SIP and Skype for Asterisk betas let you make really low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles around the world from your PBX system, and video calling, IM and presence make for richer conversations, enhancing collaboration and improving efficiency. Plus, Skype’s increasing availability on mobile phones and other mobile devices means you can use it while on the go.
And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding:
Thousands of companies are already using Skype for Business – how about you?
* Source: Skype user study of 4,000 users in the US, UK and China conducted in March 2008
† Source: Results from a December 2008 online survey of 2452 active Skype users in the US and UK
Watch Stefan Öberg live from Las Vegas at 09:30 Pacific time – and don’t forget to track #interop on Twitter for up-to-the-minute commentary.
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Thanks to Jim Courtney at Voice on the Web for his comprehensive coverage of two incredible Skype case studies - featuring a psychiatrist and a plastic surgeon whose practices have been transformed by Skype.
In an ABC news report, Dr Spero Thodorou, a plastic surgeon from New York, and Dr Loren Olson, a psychiatrist from Iowa, shared their views (Dr Olsen on a Skype video call) about how Skype has changed the way they work.
Jim Courtney says:
Psychiatrist Dr Loren Olson had started using Skype for calls to his grandchildren and then realized that he could use it (i) for routine follow up 'med-check' visits with both urban and rural patients and (ii) for clinical consultations with a team of medical providers in a rural area. Amongst his points in the interview:
- The need [for using Skype] in the cities relates to getting the 50% of mentally ill patients who do not have access to medical services to simply interact with a medical professional.
- While his calls do not have the intimacy of an office visit, there's often a question of 'this visit' vs. 'no visit'.
- Patients can become so totally absorbed and relaxed in the discussion such that the technology literally melts away. In one case a patient asked for a glass of water (says something about the realism provided by Skype's High Quality Video).
- One paranoid schizophrenic patient actually preferred using Skype for his doctor calls.
Bottom line: With the ongoing debate over rising healthcare costs, can Skype video calling contribute to solutions that not only reduce both patient and practitioner costs but also shrink travel requirements, accelerate remedial procedures and, most importantly, cut the time spent reading six-month-old magazines in the doctor's waiting room?
We'd like to think so 
Tens of thousands of businesses around the world use Skype to save time, save money and stay ahead – and yours is probably one of them. We’re celebrating the new look for Skype for Business by offering you the opportunity to share your story with the world and win prizes for your business.
We’re looking for businesses like yours to share their experiences with us at Skype. We’re looking for creativity and originality – companies which use Skype in innovative ways around the world to save time, save money or stay ahead, and preferably a combination of the three.
If that sounds like your business, then we want to hear from you.
For the best stories, we’ll be awarding first, second and third prizes in three regions – EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. The prizes are as follows:
Head over to the entry form and fill in your details – our panel of judges will review your submissions and pick three winners from each region.
Despite the demure appearance of the entry form, it’s your opportunity to go wild – add links to photos and videos to bring your story to life, and show us how Skype helps your business save time, save money and stay ahead.
Your entry must be received before the 15th June 2009 UK time, so get creative – and don’t forget that we’re here to answer any questions you might have. Just add a comment below and we’ll do our best to respond as soon as we can.
]]>VoSKY’s flagship product is VoSKY Exchange, a family of enterprise-grade VoIP gateways that optimise Skype for the business environment. All VoSKY products are fully Skype certified.
Some of the most revolutionary technologies are first introduced into businesses by individual users rather than IT departments. When others witness the benefits being enjoyed by the pioneers, the technology is quickly adopted company-wide. It happened this way with PC-based fax, email, and instant messaging, and now it’s happening with Skype.
Individuals were the first to embrace Skype as it offers free voice and video calls over the Internet. Now that it’s the world’s most popular and reliable internet communications software, with over 405 million registered users, it’s also an attractive infrastructure for business telephony applications.
What’s more, it complements the communications infrastructure that businesses already have in place, enabling them to make the most of the resources they already use. This is particularly compelling in the current business climate.
Here are five key reasons corporate IT managers should learn to embrace Skype within their organisation and how they can use and manage it effectively. If there’s someone in your organisation who needs to be ‘converted’, this should cover the basics:
Quite simply, Skype saves your business money on all call costs, whether national, international, inter-office or to mobiles.
With Skype managed centrally within your organisation via PBX-to-Skype gateways you can create global numbering plans, enabling employees to use extension dialling between offices. Site-to-site calls are free, and longer-distance calls are paid for using Skype Credit to reduce costs. The gateways also centralise Skype’s provisioning and management, giving IT managers’ full control and eliminating the need to install Skype on each PC. All Skype voice functions are delivered direct to users’ handsets.
The benefits can also extend to mobile users. With Skype installed on any smart mobile phone that can run the lite version of Skype, users’ call preferences can be set up centrally by the IT team, via the PBX gateway, for alternate routing to the mobile user’s Skype account. This is done via mobile broadband under the user’s mobile data plan, giving huge savings compared with even the cheapest international mobile tariffs.
These PBX-to-Skype application gateways can link any office phone system (whether traditional digital switch, or IP / SIP PBX) to Skype, for a low one-time upgrade cost without having to swap out or replace existing equipment. The gateways add anything from four to 30 Skype lines to the company PBX, so that Skype calls can be made and transferred between extensions as normal. Employees simply dial eight for Skype, or nine for an ordinary line.
None of your investments are made obsolete. You just make your existing assets work harder for your business and start saving money.
The gateways can be installed, and Skype provisioned, in less than half a day, without the need for any changes to existing PBX equipment, phones, or PCs. The gateway ties the Skype online number to the business to enable Skype DID. It also simplifies configuration, management and support, putting Skype under the IT manager’s full control.
There’s no need to install Skype on each PC. Skype usage can be monitored by the business just like ordinary calls, and number schemes easily managed. You set it up and it’s under centralised management right away.
So it does not add another potential security threat, or attack vector to your network. How many other corporate networks can say the same?
When Skype users connect, it’s over an AES-encrypted session, whether it’s via instant message, voice, video, or file transfer. Skype communications are secure providing Skype a significant advantage over conventional VoIP or voice VPNs.
With a gateway at each office, you get secure voice VPN working over Skype without paying for expensive leased lines, or having to deploy IP PBXs from the same vendor at every office. That’s in addition to the benefits outlined earlier.
With the cost savings and functionality benefits available to you through Skype usage, what’s not to love about it?
]]>SIP is the leading voice over Internet protocol used in businesses telephony networks – there are millions of installations across the globe. According to IDC†, 438,000 IP PBXes were shipped worldwide in 2008, so this represents a significant opportunity for Skype, and for small, medium and large businesses around the world.
With Skype For SIP, your business can:
Skype For SIP is the perfect way to integrate Skype with your existing PBX, allowing the communications from your PBX to be complemented by Skype functionality.
The beta programme will allow Skype to test Skype For SIP in real-world environments and secure critical feedback from business users like you.
Registration for the Skype For SIP beta programme is now open. To participate in the beta program, your business will need to have an installed SIP based IP-PBX system as well as the technical competency to configure you own SIP-enabled PBX. The number of beta testers will be limited so that we can provide you with the appropriate level of support during the trial.
During the beta period, the Skype for Business team will be on hand to provide support and gather feedback, and we hope to be able to launch the full version of Skype For SIP later in 2009. During the beta programme, we’ll be able to provide support in English only, but we’ll announce our plans for other languages when Skype For SIP launches fully.
† Source: IDC, Worldwide IP PBX and Desktop Hardware IP Phone Market Forecast, 2008-2012: Using the PBX as the Foundation of Unified Communications, Doc #210695, February 2008.
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At IBM Lotusphere 2009, we’re previewing a new tie-up between Skype and IBM. Over the coming months, we’ll be integrating Skype into IBM’s new cloud services, LotusLive, making it quicker and easier for LotusLive users to collaborate online.
If you’re a LotusLive user, you’ll be able to use Skype to make voice and video calls to your contacts by clicking their Skype names or phone numbers in LotusLive. Possible future features include the ability to import your Skype contacts into LotusLive to make getting in touch even easier.
This click-to-call functionality won’t just make life easier – it’ll help you save money. Don’t forget that all Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls are free, and calls to landlines and mobiles are at Skype’s low rates. You can buy and manage Skype Credit for your business using the Skype for Business Control Panel.
If you’re not already a LotusLive user, you can join the LotusLive Engage Beta on the LotusLive site – and for more about Lousphere 2009, check out Andy Donaldson’s excellent blog post.
]]>He enlightens us on the following subjects:
He offers some great examples of the range of Skype features on offer - it's well worth a listen.
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Company background
Kukuxumusu is a thriving design business based in Pamplona, Spain. Set up in 1989 by Mikel Urmeneta, Kukuxumusu creates distinctive designs and drawings for commercial products including t-shirts, postcards, ceramics, key-holders and bags. In 1996 Kukuxumusu opened its first shop exclusively selling its own products, and in 1997 it opened its online store. The company currently employs 65 employees.
Video calling
Kukuxumusu use the free video calling function extensively to talk with colleagues, clients and suppliers around the world. Founder and Creative Director Mikel is currently based in New York and remains in regular contact with the Spanish office via video calling. The team call Mikel via Skype's video calling facility in order to talk through ideas and show him product designs. Mikel says: 'Skype video calling allows you to show thing to people very quickly, which is important in our business. The clarity you get with the webcam is incredible; the definition that you get talking to your colleagues in real time is perfect.'
Cost saving
Every member of staff at Kukuxumusu has Skype, so every department from sales to design use it to chat with one another and to contact colleagues, clients and suppliers abroad for free. Instant messaging is also used frequently. The team at Kukuxumusu liaise with contacts overseas on a daily basis, and have saved money on their calling costs by using Skype. Mikel says: 'Everybody in the business has Skype and we use it every day in every department. For us, it is much cheaper to use SkypeOut credit to call abroad as it is just like making a local call.'
Kukuxumusu also make use of the file transfer facility, so information can be securely sent and received in an instant. It also means that everyone on a conference call can be sure to have the right document in front of them at the same time.
United by Skype
Without Skype, Kukuxumusu wouldn't be able to stay in touch with their contacts around the globe as easily and as frequently as they do. Video and conference calling have enabled the team to build stronger relationships with their fellow workers, clients and suppliers, as well as allowing Mikel to remain as close to his staff as if he was actually in the office. As Mikel himself states, Kukuxumusu as a business has been 'united by Skype'. ]]>
Rip Curl is a highly popular international surfing equipment and fashion manufacturer, with over 3,000 employees across the world. The company was founded in 1969 by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer in Torquay, Australia, where the company still has its head office. Doug and Brian were keen surfers who wanted to support their lifestyle, and decided the best way to do so was producing surfboards. Nearly 40 years on, the company is an international success story.
As Rip Curl grew across the world, it became increasingly more difficult to get hold of people from different continents and time zones. Brian Singer discovered Skype, and introduced a global company initiative for all employees to communicate using Skype for all text, voice and video communications. Standard Skype IDs were created as a matter of course for all staff, and now Skype is the sole internal communication vehicle, be it from across a room, across a beach or across the world.
Rip Curl's designers and manufacturers are often located in different parts of the world (Australia, Asia, California, France...) meaning different time zones and different languages. Skype's free video calling facility is regularly used to show designs, corrections, suggestions, patterns and ideas. Dummies and drawings are placed in front of web cams to show off new designs and to request changes, leaving no room for misinterpretation, while saving on international travel or lengthy written and verbal explanations.
Also, fast file sharing means everyone on a conference call can be sure to have the right document in front of them at the same time - and again, it's all free.
Skype is used "on the go" by Rip Curl. Staff members attending surfing events and competitions can keep in touch with the office for free from their laptop, immediately updating their colleagues by sharing files, images and video.
As previously mentioned, Rip Curl straddles different time zones. Skype's presence means everyone can immediately see when their colleagues are logged on to their computer, meaning no wasted calls or lengthy voicemails to people who are in bed.
Rip Curl is all about "The Search" - for the next big wave, the next cool surfing hot-spot and the newest and best way of doing things. Skype means Rip Curl can take advantage of their teams' creativity and immediacy without having to worry about complicated processes and systems.
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Company background
Cinque Terre National Park is five miles of rocky coast in eastern Liguria, Italy. Recognised as a national park in 1999, Cinque Terre is visited by 2.5 million people every year and the park's tourism board employs over 250 staff.
Internal communications
The employees at Cinque Terre National Park rely heavily on Skype for their internal communications, checking their Skype messages every morning before they open their e-mails. It is standard practice for the team to start the day with a virtual meeting on Skype, and these meetings continue throughout the working day. Those working from home or away from the office can participate by simply logging on to Skype.
Bringing people closer
With 30-40 important contacts based around the world, Skype has helped to enhance Cinque Terre's global communications. Park Manager Luca Natale says: "Nowadays, geographical isolation is far less important than technological isolation. If we had to choose between building a motorway and getting broadband, we should opt for the latter."
File transfer
The staff at the national park use Skype to send files to their contacts, finding it easier and quicker than sending by e-mail. Luca Natale says: "It's definitely better to send files over Skype as you are sure to receive the information, and the person sending it can be sure than you've got it."
Mobility
Skype allows Cinque Terre employees to work from home and away from the office, offering them the ability to be part of the daily discussions and meetings even when they're not there. As Skype can be downloaded onto any computer and accessed from wherever they are, employees can be in constant contact with the Cinque Terre offices throughout the day. "That you can be at home and have a window open onto the world is of priceless value", says Luca.
Cost and time saving
By making use of Skype's free audio and video calling, Cinque Terre has saved money on its communications costs. It has also allowed staff be more productive as they spend less time sending and reading e-mails, opting to talk over Skype or use instant messaging to converse. Luca says: "Skype has become an essential tool for our work. It's an immediate way to optimise our costs and time."]]>
The Virtual PBX for Skype includes the following features:
The Virtual PBX for Skype is available immediately. Pricing and details can be found at www.on-state.com ]]>