Skype for Asterisk - SFA What You Can Do

THU 10/15 – 11:00-11:35am

Cira B

Me

• Tim Panton - Westhawk LtdPhoneFromHere.com

• Disclaimer - I don't speak for Digium or Skype

What is SFA - Skype for Asterisk?

• Another channel - like chan_iax or chan_h323

• Allows your Asterisk to speak Skype's protocol

• Costs $66 per channel

• Includes G729

Demo: Call from Skype to Asterisk

• Call connects to Demo exten at Digium

DigiumSkype protocol

Demo server

SFA

Skype user

Why Bother with Another Channel?

• What is wrong with SIP ? (Don't get me started)

• Skype goes through firewalls

• Skype is encrypted

• Skype has 400 Million account

• Skype has 18 Million users on line _now_

How It Works

• Separate process - chan_skype module

• RTP - packet to packet bridge possible

• Low latency

• Good Quality

• Skype never transcodes - endpoint have to be compatible

How It Works - Diagram

ResSkypeForAsterisk

chan_skype

skyhost(s) 400MSkype Users

Internet

Skype Protocol

Your asterisk server

Skype as Softphone for Asterisk

• Skype is an excellent softphone

• Often pre-installed

• Multi OS

• Good echo canceller

Demo: Call from cell phone into SFA dial exten

• Goes to my Skype

PSTN

Skype protocol

Customer

SFA

DistributedSkype user

Richer Data

• Skype for Asterisk carries fields with it • language: ISO language code (en_US)

• phone_home: Home phone number (+15555551212)

• email: E-mail address (joe@example.com)

• homepage: Homepage (http://www.example.com)

• about: Short self-description (I am a Software Engineer)

• birthday: Birth date (YYYYMMDD format)

• gender: Gender (m/f)

• avatar: Avatar filename, 96x96 JPEG (/var/lib/asterisk/images/myavatar.jpg)

• etc

• Auth done by Skype network

Demo: Call from my Skype to ZipDX

• Conf id in 'topic' and Caller id preset

ZDX

Skype user

WebPage

Skype: URI

Topic +skype id

Caller id+ exten

Conference server

Presence Data

• Skype holds presence data for all users

• SFA lets you see/use it

Demo: JavaFX reflecting user status

• Switch on iphone - user presence changes.

Webserver

Skype protocol

SFA

Skype user

DynamicWebpage

Endpoints Aren't Just the Skype Desktop Client

• Mobile devices

• 3 phone

• iPhone client

• hard phones

• Skype for SIP (shoretel, cisco etc)

Demo: ????

• To Be Determined.......

What is Wrong with Skype

• Proprietary protocol

• Messy to firewall well

• No 'islands'

• Have to be connected to public internet

What is wrong with SFA

• Missing text

• Missing video

• Missing SILK

• Price?

• Can't have 2 calls from A->B

• Must use Business control Panel

Questions?

thp@westhawk.co.uk

tim@phonefromhere.com

twitter.com/steely_glint