I already wrote about EFO iPazzport – mini keyboard in the Blackberry form-factor with QWERTY and touchpad to control HTPC. Recently EFO launched a next generation of its product equipped with microphone and speaker to make voice calls via Skype, Google talk or MSN Chat. So, if you’d like not just control your HTPC but also make VoIP calls from your sofa then new fifty bucks EFO iPazzport is your choice!
Samsung joined to the Panasonic and LG announced Skype functionality on its HDTV series 7000 and 8000. But additionally a FREETALK TV Camera should be bought (on the Skype online store, for example) to have possibility make video calls. Samsung TVs with built-in Skype are already available in Korea and should be available in Europe soon.
Digium recently released the final version of the module for integration Skype and Asterisk. The implementation is done as an add-on channel driver. The module allows to Skype-to-Skype calls as well as supporting SkypeIn and SkypeOut. Additionally it offers set and retrieve online status, trunk calls between Asterisk servers over Skype, make and receive multiple concurrent Skype calls from the same Skype account. The price of Skype module for Asterisk is $66.00 per channel.
Personally I don’t see a big advantages of Skype over the SIP gates for voice calls. The SIP gates are cheaper and they give better voice quality. But the Skype module for Asterisk can be very useful in case of calling directly to the Skype accounts since Skype is a standard de-facto for business communications. In any case it’s good to have more choices for VoIP calls!
Skype recently announced a new module which integrates Skype functionality into Digium’s Asterisk software. It allows to Asterisk users make, receive and transfer Skype calls with multiple Skype names with low Skype global rates. Not bad, isn’t it?
The Skype for Asterisk beta can be downloaded from here
[via Skype Journal].
Tomorrow at 9PM Arizona time (6 AM in Helsinki) Quim Gil – a Maemo Development Platform Product Manager will be a guest over Skype in the ThoughtFix live show. If you’d like to answer Quim call toThoughtFix over Gizmo and leave a voicemail message. Or you may use IRC chat room. Most probably your question will be chosen for show.
I won’t be able to wake up so early. So, I’m interested (as many other people) to see the recorded show next day. Hope I’ll have such possibility.
