Originally Posted by Xtelesis

Skype may be considered the world’s largest VoIP network, though many would pass it off as a “not for business” option.  Realizing that a large percentage of its hundreds of million monthly users are utilizing Skype services for business, Skype developled Skype Connect.

Skype Connect enables businesses to connect with the Skype community via the Internet and works directly with existing PBX and unified communicaitons systems.

In 2009, ShoreTel became Skype’s first partner in its Skpye-for-SIP enterprise-focused offerings, allowing ShoreTel customers to use Skype to direct outbound calls from devices on ShoreTel’s UC system to landlines and mobile phones – and at a fraction of the cost (about $.008 for local and $.02 for international calls).

Desktop phones can be Skype-enabled with a Skype name that is mapped to the business’ main number or an individual telephone extension, allowing Skype users to call that number for free.

Skype connect also allows businesses to add Click and Call buttons to their websites, allowing customers to call on Skype for free.

ShoreTel customers can use the Skype Connect to direct outbound calls from devices on ShoreTel’s UC system to landlines and mobile phones using Skype’s low rates, saving money on calls.

Businesses must create and register a Skype business control panel for their organization, and then follow instructions to configure Skpye-for-SIP to work with existing SIP-enabled unified communications systems.

The features of Skpye-for-SIP include:

• Web-based tool allows businesses to control Skype usage from a single point
• Centralized billing
• Easy allocation of skype credit
• Subscriptions and online numbers to users
• Reporting about usage and spending
• Management of internal employee accounts – Find out who uses Skype and which features they use

Maxim integrated products, a fortune 1000 company, deployed Skpye-for-SIP desktop software for more than 2,000 employees in 70 locations and has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars on long-distance calling.

Maxim first rolled out Skpye-for-SIP using ShoreTel PBX in its Dallas office, configuring 22 concurrent channels for domestic calling.

“Our Skype deployment has already turned Maxim into more of a real-time organization where we get our work done better, faster and cheaper,” said Walter Curd, CIP of Maxim integrated Products.

Skype Connect is supported on seven brands of phone systems, including ShoreTel. For businesses without a phone system that supports Skype, gateway solutions are available. One such solution is VoSKY Exchange.

VoSKY Exchange is the world’s first Skype-certified solution to work with PBX systems. Business class PBX gateway for Skype allows businesses to connect to the world’s largest VoIP network and make free or low-cost calls through Exchange and Skype.

Whether through a Skype-supported unified communications system, such as ShoreTel, or a gateway solution like VoSKY, VoIP integration with Skype can save a business hundreds of thousands of dollars on local and international call.

Adam Smith, Account Executive at Xtelesis shared this example of how one of his customers uses Skype for business:

Customer A has approximately 5,000 employees distributed around the world; faced with high international long distance bills and little support for their mobile workforce, they turned to Xtelesis for a solution.  Xtelesis worked with Customer A to integrate their IPPBX to the global Skype network which allowed the international and mobile users to dial back into the phone system using Skype and avoid costly long distance charges.  Customer A saved many thousands of dollars annually in long distance telecom costs and it gave them an innovative solution that resulted in additional features as Skype rolls out their Enterprise platform.  Ask us how we can help your organization leverage these new offerings from Skype and a variety of other technology products that will help your organization thrive.

Think Skype isn’t for business? Think again.

For more information on Skype Connect, check out this article published by UCStrategies.com.

Interested in learning how your business can cut costs by using Skype Connect paired with ShoreTel? Contact us.

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