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Microsoft Kills Skype For Asterisk
Avalon73 writes "I've been using Skype for Asterisk (Digium's native Skype client for their PBX software) since it was in beta 2 years ago. Today, I received an email from Digium stating that Skype (read: Microsoft) has decided to end the agreement that made the integration possible, and Digium will stop selling the module on July 26th. Support for us existing users will be there for the next 2 years, with Skype's option to renew at that time, but I'll believe that when I see it. So much for Microsoft's promise not to screw over the existing Skype user base."
It has begun
Looks like Microsoft went ahead and skipped steps 1 and 2 this time just to make things easier for everybody.
Would be much more fun!
Am I eval()? - http://www.monst3r.com.br
The Microsoft/Skype deal is nowhere near completion, and Microsoft currently has no say in how Skype runs their business. Also the negotiations on this software were most likely ongoing long before the Microsoft/Skype merger was announced, and most likely a business decisions based on profit margins and longevity. I can't help but wonder why people are so quick to blame Microsoft for issues that they could not possible be responsible for.
not affecting the majority does not imply not screwing the userbase. Particularly of paying customers. I use skype for linux. I am not part of the majority, and when they drop support for linux and change the protocols, guess what: I'll be a screwed customer. Customers are not only the majority slice.
I like my dinosaurs feathery, and my pterosaurs hairy (or is it pycnofibery?)
I guess both of you will have to run windows now.
It is a foreshadowing of things to come, and hence why is so upsetting (Ive never even used Asterisk, honestly).
kiss my as...terisk! Asterisk is a key part of Skype's popularity and is where VOIP and video phone conferencing is trending towards these days. I wonder if this will be the death of Skype?
even after that you can renew
No: after that Microsoft has the option of choosing to allow you to renew.
Linux isn't majority of Skype user base ether.
First they came for communists, but I wasn't one...
On the other hand, skype isn't such a big deal.
Me thinks, could somebody create a Skype alternative service and profit a lot?
Like what is so special in skype? Is it that hard to code another one?
I know that Linux has skype alternatives, but they are all based on SIP standard which is somewhat NAT/firewall unfriendly.
So such alternative app could use their own (and hopefully open) protocol for communication.
I don't buy an argument of Skype user base. It really doesn't matter, cause you use it to talk with your friends.
And really you can guide even a retard to install a program on his system, or do that yourself if you visit your relatives/friends.
So the fact that skype is installed, and $SOME_OTHER_VOIP_CLENT isn't a good argument.
This has nothing to do with Microsoft, that is just troll bait. The deal isn't completed yet, they are awaiting regulatory approval before going through with it, and that is likely months away. This is Skype running as Skype, completely independent from Microsoft. Any interference at this stage and scrutiny would be an infraction even Microsoft wouldn't risk.
Seriously -- Nobody actually believed Microsoft was going to do anything but screw over the user base, did they? Already have my Ekiga account...works well and runs on an open standard.
You may rest assured that in those 2 years you will not receive any updates whatsoever, neither for security nor compatibility. Whether you will be able to renew or not is also something you may start to believe once those 2 years are over.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Yep, they just sealed their fate, at least as far as any future phone systems I might install. I had been delaying buying chan_skype for Asterisk since they hadn't made it advanced enough to handle some of my needs for Asterisk but now it looks like I just saved myself a whole lot of $$$, and redirected even more that would have gone to Microsoft. I'm really glad they made this decision for me now rather than later.
0x09F911029D74E35BD84156C5635688C0
The big thing is it's microsoft not even waiting a few weeks before yanking support for things. Because they are not a majority does not mean it isn't a huge issue. Next will most likely be the linux client, possibly followed by the android and IOS apps, in the end we could be looking at skype being windows and Windows phone only.
not affecting the majority does not imply not screwing the userbase
Yes it does.
Customers are not only the majority slice.
No, but the customer base is. Hence the term base, as in the most substantial part; not the fringe elements or corner cases.
Actually the userbase is all of the users.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/user+base
Actually, I'm not sure it's a bad thing. After the dominance of Skype is broken, maybe a truly open solution will win.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
Like what is so special in skype? Is it that hard to code another one?
Skype was the first to get good market adoption and thus sort of became the de-facto standard so there is a good chance that you can use it to speak to someone. It might not be the best, but it works well enough for most people to not feel the need to change (with all the effort that that entails). In some ways it is like MS Windows, the de-facto desktop standard, not the best but good enough for most people.
SIP still seems alive and well though. They get a monthly revenue stream from that though; seems a slightly safer option for Skype users wanting interoperability.
Matthew @ Bytemark Hosting
>>>it certainly doesn't affect the majority. Stop crying over spilled milk.
By this logic, you will keep your mouth shut when Mickeysoft stops supporting Skype for Linux or Mac OSes. Correct? (Somehow I don't believe you will.)
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
Considering just how much existing VoIP crap (including Microsoft's) runs over SIP, has anyone considered that it's possible that Skype simply decided to kill off the third party hack and focus on building native SIP connectivity? It would certainly jibe with their sudden desire to look more appealing to business users, with the ability to plug into virtually any IP-PBX solution in existence (and let's be honest, in the corporate world no-one runs Asterisk).
Funny, if Google had bought Skype and this same thing had happened, people would all be describing it as I just did. But hey, don't let rational thought get in the way of your hate-fest.
For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
how refusing NEW activations is screwing over EXISTING customers?
Is anyone surprised? Microsoft has a long history of bad ideas and costly projects met with very bad reviews. However, they usually keep pumping money into them until they are successful. If that doesn't work they just use their monopoly to make sure people use their software anyway^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W in an attempt to make people use their software.
Would you be happy with being forced to buy "GM only petrol" for your GM car? Be forced to have a Channel XYZ TV to watch Channel XYZ? Only be able to buy a memory stick for your Sony?
The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
We got screwed at work after bought Onfolio. First, they discontinued the pro version we bought and were using in Firefox in favor of a free dumbed down IE only version, then they eventually killed that. Wouldn't mind too much, but they also turned off the activation servers, meaning if we have to reinstall Windows due to, say, a virus, we can't reinstall the copy Onfolio we had bought. I guess we hit the "Extinguish" stage of the business plan.
#include <signature.h>
Yes, but my point is that there is very little vendor lock-up in regard to skype.
To switch all you have to do is to tell your relatives to do few clicks with their mouses,
and like you can even guide them.
(Assuming that skype alternative runs on windows of course).
Its is even easier that switching browsers, because, browsers often have to display poor coded HTML pages that were tested on IE only, so user might complain that his new browser doesn't render that or that program.
With switch from skype its dead easy. He will just know that to talk with me he needs to start $PROGRAM (and he can even keep using skype).
So as soon as better that skype alternative emerges, it can capture millions of users.
which is a life time in terms of technology
A lifetime in terms of computer technology. In terms of phone technology, where you might install a phone system and not really touch it for 10 years... 2 years is very short.
Seriously though, I think that what Microsoft really wants with Skype is their userbase (and maybe their audio tech), and over time they will all be funneled into Windows Live. For some reason they don't think this is worth the money it costs as the users are unlikely to move on to Windows Live so they just cancel it.
If you can't connect Skype to SIP, why do you need it?
But you can connect Skype to SIP: Skype Connect for SIP
That definition is cited as referencing "The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, (C) Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org/" whoever that is.
And Mr. Howe seems to have taken liberties with the root word of base, which means "the fundamental part of something." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/base
Moreover TFL says "This change should not affect any existing users of Skype for Asterisk," which doesn't conflict with your cited definition.
In other words, all your base are belong to me.
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
Exactly why I'm very worried about this. Here's my prediction just in case it really happens, so I can link yo it and appear to be a keen industry analyst: over the next year MS will start changing Skype's protocol, until it's incompatible with current software. The Windows version will (of course) always be up to date while other platforms will lag behind, according to their userbase: macos will be fine, android and ios a bit less so, and Linux will simply be forgotten. This will enable them to slowly kill competition without scaring the userbase into adopting an alternative. Fortunately Google talk now works on more devices with voice, so there might be a decent alternative in the near future.
Up until now, this form of use has been an option for users. Whether they partook of it or not.
Now it is being removed as an option.
Therefore, if any given user of Skype attempts to exercise this option in the future, they're screwed.
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
Yes, that's why this has happened before MS has any operational control of Skype because the merger hasn't finished yet.
This is exactly like the time when my sister blamed me for turning off her coffee pot while I was still an hour's drive away from her place.
Keep grinding that anti-MS axe though, perhaps one day you'll use it for something useful.
im a web developer, and i have been contacting with my clients through skype when they chose it. now, i will be moving out of skype and to other instant messenger / voip applications. i have numerous clients, and will probably have a lot of clients into the future at this rate, and i have the clout and goodwill to require them to contact me without skype.
im doing this, to prevent experiencing usual microsoft bullshit like one regularly encounters while dealing with them.
enjoy your new acquisition microsoft. without me and my clients.
Read radical news here
More than likely, this is just a cost saving measure by Skype to improve the books for the merger. Microsoft would have no say in such a minor thing at this point. The deal still has to go through FTC approval before Microsoft has any control over operations.
It makes no sense why Microsoft would even care at this point. In fact, from Microsoft's perspective, the more money skype loses the better, as it drives the price down. Skype itself is the only one that would micro-manage this at this point.
Or Skype knows that Microsoft wants these skype clients dropped and one explanation for paying so much over market price for skype could be that part of the "deal" is that Skype drops support for what Microsoft doesn't want before the purchase. That way, Microsoft can honestly say they didn't drop support for Asterisk or Linux or whatever. Happens all the time in mergers and acquisitions: "We really would like to purchase our company, but the operations in xyz create a real problem for us." Next thing you know, there aren't any operations in xyz.
The only thing SIP is really lacking is NAT traversal, right?
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
Phone tech still moves pretty damn slow.
By all rights we should be on the final phases of replacing VOIP with whatever would follow.. as it stands we arn't even really at mainstream VOIP yet!
part of the nokia deal? Keep it running on symbian and on wp7.
No, by my logic I'll complain when they actually cut a Skype service that people use and was free to start with. You do know what Asterisk is, correct? Besides, comparing this to cutting support to an OS is ridiculous. Sure, you could see it as a foreshadowing of what may be to come, but it's not the same thing at all. Also what's with the hypersensitivity? Troll? Really? Oh wait- it wasn't because I offended your milk, it was because I didn't bash Microsoft directly!
It's not that easy. I seldom use Skype to communicate with friends and never with relatives. I use it mostly for business, to get in touch with my customers and my coworkers (both chat and voice). I can't tell them that they have to start using a new messaging platform only to communicate with me. It will be very inconvenient and they'll invite me to call them with a phone which will cost me money and I'll still be left without a chat. They'll hate to have to spend money to call me so this is bad for my business.
So either all the world move to a Skype alternative or I'm effectively locked in. This is worse than MS Office's lock in, because there are other programs that are compatible with its file formats but there is nothing that is compatible with Skype.
Phone tech still moves pretty damn slow.
That's what makes it possible to use my perfectly good sixty year old telephone, so I'm okay with that.. This 'new' way of doing things, requiring hardware upgrades every two years sucks balls.. My seven year old computer can barely play youtube videos. And when I load up a Slashdot page, I have time to go make and wolf down a sandwich. This is not good if you're trying to stay on a diet..
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
Or disgruntled people among the executive ranks of Skype knew that people would come up with conspiracy theories by playing such a hand and are now cackling as not only do they walk away with millions but get to see Microsoft painted as the bad guy yet again!
Welcome to Slashdot, you must be new here.
Seriously, some people need to realise that microsoft is a BUSINESS. Asterisk = compete with Lync. Skype = now microsoft owned. Why the hell would they continue development of one of their products to help kill another one of their products?
Is this crap for asterisk / asterisk users? Yes. However Microsoft would have a hell of a lot of explaining to do to their shareholders if they were to continue killing the market for their own product(s) by enabling/maintaining it.
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
Maybe so but you are forgetting the other side of the coin. The same rapid pace of technology is what is responsable for things like youtube and such.
if everyone still had the same tech from 7 years ago we all would take forever loading things like youtube, so it would seem normal.
But Im betting the RIAA would LOVE that....
The deal isn't even close to completion yet, so why again am I supposed to read Skype as Microsoft when they are making moves like this?
This has to be some of the most apparent anti-Microsoft slant I've ever seen on Slashdot to date, and I've seen quite a bit of it. Please don't troll in the summary.
This is Skype running as Skype, completely independent from Microsoft.
Unless you work for one of those two companies you cannot possibly know that.
Any interference at this stage and scrutiny would be an infraction even Microsoft wouldn't risk.
Having been involved myself with a few mergers and the negotiations thereof I can definitely say that it is definitely plausible that Microsoft would have requested killing the product. I have no idea if they actually did and no proof either but it is certainly possible and wouldn't be terribly surprising. Such conditions can be explicit parts of the deal or they can be simple verbal requests. It's not at all unusual for companies being acquired to start making changes before the deal is done, particularly if they do not expect regulatory approval to be a problem. Frankly I don't really see any compelling reason for the DOJ or other regulating bodies to interfere with this merger. (not liking Microsoft isn't sufficient grounds) I'm quite certain Microsoft and Skype's lawyers and finance geeks have looked into it pretty carefully.
It's equally plausible it has nothing to do with the merger. I don't know either way but I'm pretty sure no one else reading this knows either.
"In terms of phone technology, where you might install a phone system and not really touch it for 10 years... 2 years is very short."
And your typical big telco equipment has a lifetime measured in decades.
And modern POTS lines are more-or-less backwards compatible with phones from 1930 or earlier.
The computer industry could learn a thing or two here.
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
Yes, that's why this has happened before MS has any operational control of Skype because the merger hasn't finished yet.
Even if it was not a formal part of the deal, Skype is perfectly capable of reading the tea leaves regarding what direction Microsoft intends to go post acquisition. They have been talking to each other after all. It's perfectly plausible that Skype killed the product at the request (possibly implied request) of Microsoft. It's equally plausible it has nothing whatsoever to do with Microsoft. However the timing does lead one to wonder. It's not at all unusual for companies to start making changes in advance of a merger, particularly if they expect regulatory approval to be a non-issue.
Frankly there are plenty of other avenues for VOIP so I don't really give a crap either way.
This is exactly like the time when my sister blamed me for turning off her coffee pot while I was still an hour's drive away from her place.
Wow! That's an impressively bad analogy even for slashdot.
What about Obelix, did he want Skype dead aswell?
When Microsoft came and said 'We're going to buy you for more money than you deserve multiplied by about a hundred ... Okay? Good, now, if you want us to continue with this deal, you listen to us from now on ... now kill the Skype projects like the good little bitch I just paid for'
Its rather ignorant to ignore the fact that the high level people in Skype are probably talking fairly often to their future bosses ... if you have ANY SENSE what so ever you do what they want because if you don't, they either back out of the deal, and you're SOL or ... they fire you after the merger is complete and of course part of the merger agreement was that previous exit parachute bonuses are no longer on the table ... and then again, you are SOL.
You've clearly never dealt with corporate politics and personal greed.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Dominance? Seriously?
The only people who use Skype are people too cheap to pay for a real phone call. No one anywhere that matters uses Skype to communicate. It may dominate the 'shitty VoIP services' market, but again, no one cares.
VoIP over the Internet is a retarded plan until the network infrastructure has proper QoS support, until then its a crap shoot while you hope that congestion doesn't ruin the call or disconnect you.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Yes you will, Digum has support contract (which is the 2 years they are covering) which require security fixes as part of the contract.
You may not get any new features, but the whole reason people PAY for support contracts is to ensure they will get support for a minimum period of time. The contracts define that level of support. Digum's support contracts are pretty good (I've admined a asterisk setup for a small company), I expect they'll take good care of their customers in the interim and use this as an opportunity to point out why you want to avoid anything Microsoft gets involved in.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Not really, I watched the WTC collapse on a live video stream on my cable modem because we didn't have cable TV at the time. From a technology perspective the only thing thats changed to me is that my laptop runs longer ... and hotter. I still pretty much do the same stuff (and I'm a developer) at about the same speed. The Internet is supposedly faster, but I really can't tell. I'm sure, my cable modem max speed has went from 3mb/s to 10mb/s but for the most part, 3 was just enough to do pretty much everything. Sure, not HD video, but youtube doesn't take 3mb/s either.
The tech that gets you fast youtube videos is about 20 years old, its just finally getting to be ubiquitous enough that we're starting to actually USE it.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Oh please,.Windows ME was not a bad idea. It was designed to kill off the Windows 9x line so everyone (users and developers) would move to XP. How much of the software that failed on ME would also failed on XP had developers not been forced to remove their assumptions of being able to load drivers in config.sys and autoexec in real mode DOS?
Microsoft Bob was a product of its time. There were a lot of attempts by many companies to make computing easy for non-techy people by mimicking real world objects. It always fails though. You should not look at Bob as a dumb idea, merely as an implementation of a failed genre.
Windows Vista got a lot worse reviews than it deserved. A lot of what was said about the OS turned out to be untrue. Windows 7 shows that they were actually on to a good idea once the drivers had caught up.
"Before this thread I never even heard of Asterisk before, and after this probably never will again."
I'm guessing you have never done anything with telephony.
I find it hard to believe that you're not just trolling. But on the off chance that you're not...
My company uses Skype to conference call with overseas clients. It's nothing to do with the avoided cost of a 'real' phone call (which is insignificant compared to consultant time) and everything to do with universal availability, video conference ability and ease of use making it a better option than a 'real' phone call.
Insanity: voting in the same two parties over and over again and expecting different results
Microsoft didn't do anything here, they don't control Skype yet. But since when did accurate information get in the way of a good bias.
... facepalm.
Signature has left the building.
What about Obelix, did he want Skype dead aswell?
Nah, he just wants a nice, juicy sanglier.
If Microsoft wanted just the audio tech part of Skype, they would have simply buy it. Why? Because the audio part of Skype hasn't been made inhouse, but BOUGHT on the software market, and included in the product. Echo cancelation and codecs aren't Skype's work.
And guess what's going to happen to the Skype support in my Nokia n900 ... Even you, forgot about it.
Dear Customer of Skype for Asterix,
It is time for you to renew your service contract. We have the pleasure of quoting you the following for the renewal.
1 Skype for Asterix Support Contract Renewal 1yr 1exchange=100 Cals(minimum)
Price per Cal= $5000.00
Total $5,000,000 + Tax
We look forward to seeing your purchase order soon.
Yours
S Balmer
Microsoft.
I'd rather be riding my '63 Triumph T120.
Actually the Google Voice (former Grand Central) core switch is Yate with a special call control module that interface with the business logic.
I'm guessing you have never done anything with telephony.
I'm sure he's a highly competent sysadmin providing filesharing and printersharing for tens of people.
-- Linux user #369862
They can dictate anything they want, as you said the acquisition is not complete and could be cancelled... Skype will do pretty much anything MS wants in order to ensure the deal doesn't fall through.
It's highly likely that during negotiations, MS provided a list of demands that skype must comply with before the buyout happens - otherwise its off.
http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
How to try co catch a foothold in a communication based market by giving the message to the world that anybody using anything else than windows should see if he can live with google talk or competitors. yes, thats you, android and iphone users; better switch now and send the skype contacts your new address.
Microsoft has been screwing over their existing user base since AT LEAST Windows 95.
Yes and no. The initial setup does require some central system.
Skype NAT Hole Punching
Fear is the mind killer.
Let me guess: you work at Skype and want to make a good first impression...
Don't tell me to get a life. I'm a gamer; I have LOTS of lives!
You probably haven't much either, but don't let that stop you from pretending you know exactly how the deal went down.
How does it feel to be a liar with pants constantly on fire?
Nope. I have never used Skype. But why do you ask? Was anything that I said incorrect?
You might have a point, if anyone had actually used ME.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Windows ME was not a bad idea. It was designed to kill off the Windows 9x line so everyone (users and developers) would move to XP.
You might have a point, if anyone had actually used ME.
So that would be "Mission Accomplished" then. The product did exactly what I said it was intended to do.
We've been using the Skype Connect business service for several months. Works great on our Switchvox (asterisk-based phone server with nice GUI). All it takes is to connect as a standard SIP client to Skype after setting up the account with them.
It seems they are just simplifying their offerings, as you don't need any sort of plugin to asterisk to accomplish this.
The only ``intuitive'' interface is the nipple. After that, it's all learned.
Microsoft will move skype to be a hotmail addition. If you want Skype, you will want hotmail, and you will want skype credits, then you must purchase from the Microsoft store, etc. etc. etc.
Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
A great deal of your complaints with the PSTN stem from business decisions, not engineering ones. And don't get me wrong -- they're my complaints, too. I'm no fan of corporate planning or the business office, believe me. I certainly don't claim we should emulate everything the telcos do. I note I didn't claim that in my post, either -- you're building a straw man and then attacking that. The point I was making still stands: One thing the telcos can do right, when they put their mind to it, is robust, scalable, long-lived engineering. In the pee sea world, we have to replace technology every five years or so, even if it's working perfectly, just because it isn't supported any longer. For all the strengths of the technology, that aspect I'm not a fan of.
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
You probably have a valid argument when it comes to cost impact, I'll grant you that. But I'd counter that the upgrade treadmill can also be quite expensive. And while better engineering would cost more, it's one-time cost. Operating and repair costs never stop. Which is not to say it's for everybody. My complaint here would be that those of us who are more forward-thinking don't even have the option of paying more upfront for better engineering. It's planned-obsolesce or nothing.
No, I don't expect anything to change, but I can still bitch about it on the Internet. :)
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.