John McElhenny
Schwartz Communications
781.684.0770
digium@schwartz-pr.com
Jane Brooks
Digium, Inc.
256.428.6075
jbrooks@digium.com
Chaim Haas
Kaplow for Skype
646 747 3557
chaas@kaplowpr.com
Brianna Reynaud
Skype
408 376 4927
Brianna.reynaud@skype.net
Digium and Skype Collaborate to Bring Skype to Business Phone Systems
Skype For Asterisk beta program starts today, adding Skype features to Asterisk-based solutions
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AstriCon 2008)—September 25, 2008—Digium®, creator and primary developer of Asterisk®, the leading open source telephony platform, and Skype™, the leading global Internet communications company, today announced the beta version of Skype For Asterisk, which will allow the integration of Skype functionality into Digium's Asterisk software and enable customers to make, receive and transfer Skype calls from within their Asterisk phone systems.
"Throughout our individual histories, Skype and Asterisk have each disrupted conventional communication methods through innovative, cost-effective solutions," said Stefan Öberg, vice president and general manager for Skype Telecom and Skype for Business. "We are excited to be working together with Digium to offer small and mid-sized businesses an even more powerful communications solution to conduct business worldwide."
Specifically, the beta version of Skype For Asterisk is an add-on channel driver module that integrates Skype Internet calling with Asterisk-based telephony products. Skype For Asterisk also complements small and mid-sized business users' existing services by providing low rates for calling landline and mobile phones around the world.
"Working together with Skype, our goal is to help businesses boost productivity and reap the rewards of feature-rich telephony software, all while saving a substantial amount of money," said Danny Windham, CEO of Digium, the creator and sponsor of Asterisk. "The Skype For Asterisk beta program is a first step towards adding Skype capabilities to Asterisk-based phone systems and enabling them to reach more than 338 million Skype users."
The beta version of Skype For Asterisk will enable business users to:
- Make, receive and transfer Skype calls from within Asterisk phone systems, using existing hardware.
- Complement existing services with low Skype global rates (as low as 2.1US¢ per minute to more than 35 countries worldwide).
- Save money on inbound calling solutions such as free click-to-call from a website, as well as receive inbound calling from the PSTN through Skype's online numbers.
- Manage Skype calls using Asterisk applications such as call routing, conferencing, phone menus and voicemail.
Live at AstriCon
Stefan Öberg will provide the first public demonstration of Skype For Asterisk during his keynote address today at AstriCon, the annual Asterisk user and developer conference. AstriCon attendees are also invited to stop in and see a demonstration of Skype For Asterisk at the Skype booth on the expo floor.
Skype For Asterisk Beta Program
The Skype For Asterisk beta program begins today; Asterisk users, system administrators and developers are invited to apply at www.astricon.net/skype. The initial beta is limited to a select number of users, developers and integrators.
About Skype
Founded in 2003, Skype is revolutionizing the way people communicate around the world. Skype has more than 338 million registered users globally who use Skype software to communicate for free through voice and video calls as well as instant messages. Skype generates revenue through its premium offerings, such as calls made to and from landlines and mobiles, voicemail, call forwarding, and SMS. Skype is used in almost every country on Earth, and people have made more than 100 billion minutes worth of free Skype-to-Skype calls. Conversations over Skype can take place on computers, mobile devices and Skype Certified™ hardware. Skype certifies and sells hundreds of hardware products from more than 50 partners, and works with hundreds of third-party developers who have created plug-ins to extend Skype's functionality.
Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). Learn more and download Skype at www.skype.com.
Access to a broadband Internet connection is required. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and can not be used for emergency calling.
About Digium
Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, created, owns and is the innovative force behind Asterisk, the most widely used open source telephony software. Since its founding in 1999, Digium has become the open source alternative to proprietary communication providers, with offerings that cost as much as 80 percent less. Digium offers Asterisk software free to the open source community and offers Asterisk Business Edition and Switchvox IP PBX Software to power a broad family of products for small, medium and large businesses. The company's product line includes a wide range of hardware to enable resellers and customers to implement turnkey solutions or to design their own voice over IP (VoIP) systems. More information is available at www.digium.com.
The Digium logo, Digium, Asterisk, Asterisk Business Edition, AsteriskNOW, Asterisk Appliance, Switchvox and the Asterisk logo are trademarks of Digium, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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