s martbridge Trading Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Its one of the classic discussions still going on in the VOIP community today. Is Skype VOIP or not?

Technically, Skype is'nt VOIP. Bold statement yes, but true and here is why.

The term VOIP has become analogous for any communications that deliver voice communications over IP networks such as the Internet or other packet-switched networks (IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband, broadband telephony, etc) So therefore Skype does fit this very loose definition.

But here is where it simultaneously starts to get fuzzier and clearer at the same time.

VOIP services are usually provided by a Service Provider, Carrier or Operator. They guarantee (albeit to a differing degree) the ability to make and receive calls utilising VOIP over their networks, whether they own/run the network infrastructure themselves or lease/utilise network infrastructure from someone else.

A VOIP Service Provider, Carrier or Operator can and does provide assurances of network availability, call quality and some degree of assurance against call disconnects and call failures. Skype cannot.

VOIP is also governed by a "standard" protocol called SIP (if you can call the inumerable variations of RFC3261 protocol "standard"!) which is governed by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) which in turn means it is tested, proven and regulated, which finally, means in theory that one kind of VOIP application can speak with another VOIP application no matter where in the world you happen to be.

And here is where Skype comes undone.
The Skype network is not interoperable with most other VoIP networks without proper licensing from Skype*1 and it offers no interoperability with SIP-based VoIP networks.*2

Skype is a software application that allows the user to place and receive calls across the internet. It has no network, no infrastructure no service level agreements and therefore cannot provide any guarantees to network availability, call quality or call disconnects, PERIOD. A VOIP Service Provider, Carrier or Operator can. And therein lies the differentiator.

Skype is a very clever marketing campaign that borders on misleading its users that it is a bonafide communications provider of some sort.

So why do I get a pop-up after my Skype call is finished asking me how my call experience was?!? It's called, clever marketing! Nothing more. There are no teams of engineers or support staff or network architects sitting behind that pop-up window just waiting to tweak and fine-tune your next Skype call experience. (and by the way, there is also no Santa Claus!) 

Skype is what it is. A piece of free software from a software provider that provides you with an alternative way to contact your friends and family that offers no guarantees. And for that price, it's a fantastic tool. My 64yo Mother even uses it! But if you are using Skype as a business tool and expect it to perform as a business tool with business tool guarantees, then think again!

Just as mobile phones were also first confused with walkie-talkies, so too are an immense amount of people confusing Skype with the serious business tool of VOIP.

VOIP and SIP have a serious impact upon the future of telecommunications and the way we use telecommunications in business and in private. More and more businesses as well as indviduals are realising the benefits (and some drawbacks) of being able to perform communications across the Internet utilising VOIP & SIP. It has permeated our lives to such a degree that we now gaze in bewilderment when we meet people who don't use VOIP or Skype either at home or in the office.

So do your business (and your telephony colleagues) a favor, stop confusing Skype with VOIP and start benefitting from the savings to be had that VOIP & SIP can bring you!

*1 taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_protocol
*2 taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype#System_and_software