Skype and other services

[Jeff Golas]

Has anyone integrated Skype into their phone system, or use other similar products for production use?

We've used Skype periodically for a conf call here and there but want to try to use it more often for conference calls to Germany and other countries. I have a crappy little webcam now but getting a new Polycom conference phone that also integrates with the computer, and down the road want to get a nicer cam if it all works out.

[Mark]

I know you can get Skype for Asterisk now, which sounds pretty cool because people can Skype right into your service queue and the CSR's don't need to be on Skype.  It's basically like a trunk if I understand it correctly

http://www.digium.com/en/products/software/skypeforasterisk.php

[Jeff Golas]

Yep you have to buy licensing for it but it didn't look that bad. After dealing with our phone system all week, the only thing I keep thinking over and over again is "Man I could do this soo easy on Asterisk" lol.

Wally World has Skype usb ata adapters for $14 on clearance - still need a computer to run it but I may try this on our phone system to see how it works. I have a comp already running in the server room for misc tasks so I can just throw this on there.

[Kenny Cruzan]

we had sykpe for years on our phone system.  I'm pretty sure you can put it on any phone system and just designate a preset button to dial out on the skype line.  It takes some hardware but it works pretty good.  Bad thing is the caller ID is some weird number.  We use the hardware from vosky.

www.vosky.com

[Jeff Golas]

Kenny- what/how do you use Skype, meaning, what purpose does it serve? Cheap long distance?