Swisscom Directories embrace Skype

probe

Swisscom has recently added a VoIP dialling feature to it's directories.ch – online phonebook. After looking up a phone number, you click on the number and if you have the latest version of Skype installed, it sets up the call automatically.

I mention it here, because it shows how a state owned phone company can be made open and responsive to customer needs by good management and best practice in corporate structure engineering. The people at Swisscom Directories AG obviously have a free hand to do deals with competing phone companies such as Skype, and provide the best directory service to it's customers - even though other divisions of Swisscom may feel differently. A development one could not envisage within eircom’s current monopolistic monolithic ethos.

Another intelligent feature recently added to the Swisscom phonebook is Ajax programming. Let’s assume you are looking for “Smith” – just type “smit” into the name box and up pops all the possible variations of Smit* in the database, from which one can select the required option. Similarly, in the “zip, town” box enter 123 and all the towns whose postcode begins with 123 appear – no waiting for a new window to be created thanks to ajax.
http://www.directories.ch/index.aspx?ans_lng=en&language=en

Faster, easier and more precise than scrolling through 200 odd pages of Murphys in the eircom phonebook – a service that has remained dormant since it first appeared on the www years ago. Much the same as virtually every other aspect of eircom (aside from ill-conceived private equity / debt plays) :-(

.probe


More on Ajax:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_(programming)

Foxwood

probe wrote:

I mention it here, because it shows how a state owned phone company can be made open and responsive to customer needs by good management and best practice in corporate structure engineering.

Linking to a proprietary computer messaging system isn't what I'd call "good management and best practice". Allowing you con make a SIP connection from an industry standard VoIP provider, maybe, but not skype.

watty

You can use a real SIP interface or soft SIP on PC, but it was never really intended for NAT traversal, though it can work.
Skype on the otherhand will work with NO inward ports. Though better if you have port forwarding.

Most people using SIP have real phone numbers and VOIP providers. Most people using Skype don't have SkypeIn (no phone number). Really it is different markets.

Most Skype handsets are just USB sound cards, you need PC running. While SIP can run as X-Lite or Windows messenger on PC, plenty of SIP adaptors for real wired phones, DECT bases or WiFi SIP phone exist that don't need your PC. The few PC-less Skype handsets are poor and of dubious ability to handle Skype upgrades.

Anyway what's this to do with ireland OffLine?

probe

I use both SIP (with proper SIP phones) and Skype myself.

1) Skype doesn’t work as well in Ireland as in some other countries – particularly on SkypeOut calls – either because of the poor quality of the broadband infrastructure generally or perhaps certain broadband providers are playing games with the Skype IP traffic passing through their networks to deliberately cause problems for users? SkypeIn has huge problems in GB at the moment – one suspects because certain traditional phone companies in that country are playing dirty tricks with the service!

2) ComReg is also trying to keep Skype out of the Irish market by imposing a requirement that Skype establish a place of business in Ireland before they can have access to Irish numbering space. If every country did this, very few would have SkypeIn and it would be a more expensive service where available to cover the cost of needlessly setting up offices here, there and everywhere.

3) Skype to Skype calls are excellent in most countries – particularly if you open a port in the firewall for Skype (so the call doesn’t have to transit a Skype supernode). Far better than the sound quality of dial-up calls still used by Irish radio stations when interviewing people.

HOWEVER THE POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH SKYPE OR SIP OR ANY OTHER TECHNOLOGY. I AM TRYING TO SHOW HOW SWISSCOM HAS GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO VARIOUS OPERATING DIVISIONS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THAT DIVISION’S USERS – I.E. CUSTOMERS. If you look at the www.directories.ch site again, Swisscom Directories isn’t just plugging Skype – they are also providing information on the benefits of VoIP generally.

.probe


p.s. to hear how good Skype to Skype calls sound – listen to this podcast for a moment or two. The two guys making it (Leo and Steve) are in different cities and connect over a free Skype to Skype connection and get near studio quality during their discussion. Over a free call!
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://aolradio.podcast.aol.com/sn/SN-065.mp3

cgarvey

Moved IoffL > VoIP

watty wrote:

Anyway what's this to do with ireland OffLine?

Nowt, but it would have been moved a lot faster had you use the Report Post link .

It would have made more sense to use the callto:// protocol in the link. That way Skype or any other compatible VoIP software (such as your preferred SIP-compliant setup) could handle it. Maybe Skype sweetened the deal, or maybe they want other VoIP (with custom protocol support) to wheel on in and inject some cash.

probe

If eircom had a similar corporate ethos to Swisscom, the eircom division responsible for local loops wouldn’t be dragging its heels when it came to offering loop unbundling. It would be a separate independent business unit. They would be happy to have another company unbundling the line because they would make as much / even more for their division than they probably now do under the current structure. Stopping the customer perhaps from using an alternative (eg wireless). Not under the influence of eircom’s retail or wholesale broadband operations.

Eircom is a huge octopus of a company with dozens of divisions – few of which are operating at their optimum performance – partly because everyone is looking over their back.

(At the expense of repetition): Perhaps I didn’t put it in big enough letters for some people!

HOWEVER THE POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH SKYPE OR SIP OR ANY OTHER TECHNOLOGY. I AM TRYING TO SHOW HOW SWISSCOM HAS GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO VARIOUS OPERATING DIVISIONS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THAT DIVISION’S USERS – I.E. CUSTOMERS.

.probe

watty

I'd don't think it has much to do with achieving an Irish USO for Broadband and true affordable real flat rate dialup where it is impossible.

Urban Weigl

I, for one, was interested in this story, and think it was relevant to IOffL, even if it was not directly related to broadband.

damien

probe wrote:

Perhaps I didn’t put it in big enough letters for some people!

Yes, I'm sure the issue of relevance has everything to do with typesetting.

cgarvey

probe wrote:

(At the expense of repetition): Perhaps I didn’t put it in big enough letters for some people!

I got it the first time, thanks. :rolleyes:

The reason why I deemed it off-topic, is that it has no bearing on what IoffL do (or are likely to do for some time), or how they go about doing it. IoffL have plenty to do other than worry about eircom micro-management.

I did leave the redirect there, because it was very remotely related to the area of interest of IoffL (for the reason you state).

If you have further objection, please PM a mod of IoffL, rather than creating more threads about the topic.