** Reply to message from Hakan <agents@meddatainc.com> on Sat, 01 Oct 2005
12:46:56 -0400 (EDT)
> On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:35:01 +0300, Stan Goodman wrote:
>
> >** Reply to message from Hakan <agents@meddatainc.com> on Sat, 01 Oct 2005
> >12:08:40 -0400 (EDT)
> >
> >> There is no doubt that Skype's current business idea will be left
> >> behind as VoIP solutions not requiring computers become more
> >> commonplace. Such offerings have been available in the U.S. for
> >> probably two years, do exist in Europe, and today we saw Stan's message
> >> that he just started using it in Israel. I will grant Skype credit for
> >> giving VoIP calling a higher profile, though, but as a long-term
> >> business venture, forget about it. Earlier this year, Skype itself
> >> declared that they would develop their own telephone so that a computer
> >> would no longer be needed, ultimately killing off their current
> >> solution themselves.
> >
> >That's interesting, because I think it implies major changes in the way that
> >Skype operates. Someone has mentioned that Skype actually uses the computers of
> >its subscribers as relays. Unless the under-development special Skype
> >subscriber sets are capable of relaying, it means a different kind of operation.
>
> Stan, yes, it is a big change and my take is that Skype realizes that
> their current solution has limited appeal and that as technology
> evolves, they will be left behind. On your other point, I find it very
> hard to believe that individual users' computers would be used as
> relays. Why would they be? This is /not/ a peer-to-peer network. I
I have no idea why, or even if. It's been said on one of the comp.os.* NGs, I'm
pretty sure. I only read it.
> assume that Skype functions as any other VoIP service, it runs over the
> internet until the call needs to be terminated and switched to the
> regular POTS net. I use Lingo for my non-computer dependent VoIP
> service and many times when I call Europe, the number on the caller ID
> box of the recipient begins with 44 signifying a call from the U.K., I
> thusly assume the call is terminated in the U.K. and travels over the
> regular POTS net from there on. Everyone needs to bear in mind that it
> is /not/ possible to call regular phone subscribers anywhere for free
> since all calls need to switch from the internet to the regular POTS
> network (or cellular network) somewhere.
>
> >What's missing, BTW, from the arrangement that I described for my fixed home
> >telephone seervice is that it leaves me with no solution when I'm travelling
> >out of the country. In a perfect world, I would be able to reach my VoIP
> >provider account from my laptop plugged into a public LAN abroad, and the
> >provider would complete the call to a telephone subscriber somewhere on the
> >planet.
>
> Yes, I can take my Lingo adapter box with me anywhere and still be
> reachable on my Lingo number, make calls and use all other features as
> well, of course. In fact, I will take it with me to Warpstock next
> week and I have already used it when traveling both in the U.S. and in
> Europe and it worked fine as expected.
--
Stan Goodman
Qiryat Tiv'on
Israel
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