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Skype Releases Open SDK
An anonymous reader writes "SkypeKit gives Linux developers access to core functionality, allowing Linux developers to add video, calling, and instant messaging features to desktop applications. The SDK also comes with the freshly royalty-free SILK codec for high-end audio. Skype is hoping that the inclusion of SILK will popularize the codec, extending its reach. Currently, the SkypeKit beta is only available for Linux on an invite-only basis, with Windows and Mac versions planned in coming weeks. The SDK does not cover Android or Mac, an odd choice considering the announcement of SkypeKit championed itself for extending the functionality of Skype to multiple platforms and devices. Including smartphones in the SDK seems like an obvious move." Ars Technica has a rundown, too.
This should be interesting... I wonder what a combination of Skype and Google Voice could do for me...
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I'm assuming that Skype plans on making money off of this somehow, so how are they doing that? Are they hoping for people to use Skype technologies everywhere, so that more people will start paying Skype for the commercial/paid offerings they have?
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Is SkypeKit ‘open’? What will you restrict?
The topic of openness is often debated and its definition can mean different things to different people. For starters, we believe in an open Internet and open standards. We are adopting an open approach meaning we are releasing APIs and enabling others to use SkypeKit and apply it in new ways. But, SkypeKit won’t be opened up to every single use case that developers dream up. For example, our license terms prohibit using SkypeKit for gambling or adult-themed applications.
Think of SkypeKit as a "headless" version of Skype – that is, a Skype client with no user interface that runs invisibly.
How is this even remotely close to open ? As far as I can see it's still just a binary blob!
I'd really like to see this result in Linux support for screen sharing. It works great on Mac and Windows, but the Linux Skype client is quite old and they don't seem to have much interest in developing for Linux besides making sure the packages can still install.
So they don't want a porn webcam client built on Skype? I get that. Maybe that scared them from fully opening the client. But community development is beneficial.
But in the end, they own the Skype trademark. No one could call their client a Skype client without their permission. Just like Mozilla is protective of non-standard builds being labeled as Firefox.
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Why does anyone use a proprietary system like Skype, when open standards such as SIP and Jingle (used by google talk) exist? Isn't skype just another closed system to get locked into?
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Skype can win if it's ubiquitous (ie, de-facto standard) even if FaceTime is really open where it appears not to be.
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Interesting that they release the Linux SDK first. Probably what the dev's use. Bad news for Ballmer.
There is already SIP and H323 which are standard protocols implemented by all major VoIP and videoconference sellers and providers.
Why would you want to use a limited and broken protocol only implemented by one company, and which specifications aren't even published?
SkypeKit beta is only available for Linux on an invite-only basis, with Windows and Mac versions planned in coming weeks. The SDK does not cover Android or Mac
I think Skype's sudden rush to get some sort of functional API and relevance that Linux users/programmers can use to be honest is interesting but to little to late. Yes there is a huge 10,000lb gorilla in the room called Google and just recently they (google) have opened access to the general public (USA only right now but there are hacks to get around that). Were Google has got it right is not so much the integration of different services like mobiles and home/work telephones is the fact they have gone with a open industry standard protocol called SIP. That means I can use my (in my case Ericsson 6755i desktop SIP phone) with Google Voice and my normal SIP service without having to worry about some SIP->Skype stuffing around. I think we are seeing the dieing days of a great idea in its day but has now become over shadowed by a more competitive (as in cheaper), open and disruptive technology called SIP. One thing I must admit though is no one has created a PC based SIP client yet with as much functionality as Skype's but I can see those days being numbered (Skype under 64 bit Linux I must admit is a pain right now especially for video calls).
The SDK as it currently stands is completely open-source incompatible. The 'API' libraries (C++ and python wrappers) to the headless client are completely propriety and need to be rewritten and the license terms specifically state that no Skype-provided source code may be used in your open source project
Anybody who's tried to find Skype for an Android phone could clear that up. There used be an official Skype client for Android, but it's been withdrawn "in order to improve the mobile experience". Translation: if you want Skype on any mobile platform other than iPhone, you have to switch to Verizon. Hard to enforce if there's an Android SDK.
There is currently a proprietary Skype channel driver for Asterisk that you can buy and bolt onto your Asterisk server to make Skype calls. Does the availability of this new SDK mean that it will now be trivial for someone to build such a module and release it (minus the "Open SDK" of course) as open source?
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I have not been able to call ordinary phones (POST) using Skype, on my N900.
Yes, I am paying for the Skype-Out service (monthly subscription). I can dial ordinary phones from the Skype client on my Kubuntu 10.04 laptop, but not my N900. The fact that my N900 Skype client says that my destination number "is invalid" (because it should be the name of a Skype account) is disappointing, to say the least. (Although it's only one in a long list of disappointing things about the N900.)
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What are the fees for using SkypeKit? To get started, we will charge a nominal membership fee -- less than $20 US -- for access to the program and SkypeKit. Once a third-party product is ready for commercialization, there is an add-on fee for user experience and audio/video testing and certification, which we require to make sure products are ready and qualified for our plugged into Skype descriptor that is awarded to approved products.
They might as well have not released it for GNU/Linux at all. I am not about to install some binary blob application based on SkypeShit and pay $20 for (ab)using it. btw, SIP ftw.
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Why would you want to use a limited and broken protocol only implemented by one company, and which specifications aren't even published?
I use SIP and my mother uses SIP because I gave her a pre-configured hardware SIP phone and even plugged it in for her. Everyone else wants me to install Skype NOW. That's why you would want to implement the broken protocol.
Nobody but my mother calls me using SIP, even though SIP:*8967100@sip.kristinehamnk1.com is published numerous places on the Internets (don't need the after @ part if you abuse SipBroker), everyone wants me to start using Facebook & install Skype. That's what the world has come to. You don't need SIP to talk to yourself and that's about all you can do with it, if you have friends then you'll find they all use Facebook and Skype and other evil.
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Skype Open SDK for Linux = a free market for innovative Skype handsets.
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I'm still waiting for the day I can hook to even the most basic Skype interface using Pidgin. All of my contacts use Yahoo!, MSN, or GTalk - except one. And he swears by Skype. Consequently, I don't ever communicate with him online (even though he's a close relative), because I don't want that xxxx installed on any box I use.
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Would this mean that IM clients like pidgin and empathy now could implement a skype chat next to the other chats? this would definatly be a win to have it all in one app.