SkypeIn Reaches Beta Users

galdur writes "Skype quietly released a new 1.2 beta featuring SkypeIn (in US, UK, France, China & Hong Kong), central voicemail (for those not using the free 3rd party SAM or Pamela), and finally centralised contact list. SkypeIn is the opposite of the company's SkypeOut, allowing you now to receive normal telephone calls through Skype."

Comments

Quietly?

[h042]

"..Skype quietly released..."

Oh well...

Why I prefer Skype to an Open(TM) solution

[WhiteWolf666]

I'm a fairly big Linux person.

I run nothing but Linux on my desktops, and I purchased a Powerbook about 6 months ago.

I know my way around computers. I can take them apart, put them together.

I've futzed with non-supported and almost supported hardware for a long time.

I'll be damned if I can get a SIP solution that will work anywhere near as well as Skype.

I want it on my Mac.
I want it on Linux.
I want it to traverse NATs with (at best) minimal setup that I can describe to someone over the phone.
I want it on Windows. And I want the Windows version to talk to the other versions.
I'd prefer an easy install (no mucking around with text config files), so that I can point other people at a download, and have them install.

I've even tried to come up with some kind of similar solution myself, create a package my friends/family could download, but it just isn't possible to do with the current 'open' solution.

So I point them at Skype. They can download it, and install it with no problem.

The ONLY time they ever have problems is when they forget to plugin the microphone, or plug it in to the wrong port.

These are not stupid people. These are well eductated, and generally economically succesful.

But they only have a modicum of computer knowledge, and when push comes to shove, they can get Skype working.