Post on 22-Dec-2015
Skype for Asterisk - SFA What You Can Do
THU 10/15 – 11:00-11:35am
Cira B
Me
• Tim Panton - Westhawk LtdPhoneFromHere.com
• Disclaimer - I don't speak for Digium or Skype
What is SFA - Skype for Asterisk?
• Another channel - like chan_iax or chan_h323
• Allows your Asterisk to speak Skype's protocol
• Costs $66 per channel
• Includes G729
Demo: Call from Skype to Asterisk
• Call connects to Demo exten at Digium
DigiumSkype protocol
Demo server
SFA
Skype user
Why Bother with Another Channel?
• What is wrong with SIP ? (Don't get me started)
• Skype goes through firewalls
• Skype is encrypted
• Skype has 400 Million account
• Skype has 18 Million users on line _now_
How It Works
• Separate process - chan_skype module
• RTP - packet to packet bridge possible
• Low latency
• Good Quality
• Skype never transcodes - endpoint have to be compatible
How It Works - Diagram
ResSkypeForAsterisk
chan_skype
skyhost(s) 400MSkype Users
Internet
Skype Protocol
Your asterisk server
Skype as Softphone for Asterisk
• Skype is an excellent softphone
• Often pre-installed
• Multi OS
• Good echo canceller
Demo: Call from cell phone into SFA dial exten
• Goes to my Skype
PSTN
Skype protocol
Customer
SFA
DistributedSkype user
Richer Data
• Skype for Asterisk carries fields with it • language: ISO language code (en_US)
• phone_home: Home phone number (+15555551212)
• email: E-mail address (joe@example.com)
• homepage: Homepage (http://www.example.com)
• about: Short self-description (I am a Software Engineer)
• birthday: Birth date (YYYYMMDD format)
• gender: Gender (m/f)
• avatar: Avatar filename, 96x96 JPEG (/var/lib/asterisk/images/myavatar.jpg)
• etc
• Auth done by Skype network
Demo: Call from my Skype to ZipDX
• Conf id in 'topic' and Caller id preset
ZDX
Skype user
WebPage
Skype: URI
Topic +skype id
Caller id+ exten
Conference server
Presence Data
• Skype holds presence data for all users
• SFA lets you see/use it
Demo: JavaFX reflecting user status
• Switch on iphone - user presence changes.
Webserver
Skype protocol
SFA
Skype user
DynamicWebpage
Endpoints Aren't Just the Skype Desktop Client
• Mobile devices
• 3 phone
• iPhone client
• hard phones
• Skype for SIP (shoretel, cisco etc)
Demo: ????
• To Be Determined.......
What is Wrong with Skype
• Proprietary protocol
• Messy to firewall well
• No 'islands'
• Have to be connected to public internet
What is wrong with SFA
• Missing text
• Missing video
• Missing SILK
• Price?
• Can't have 2 calls from A->B
• Must use Business control Panel
Questions?
thp@westhawk.co.uk
tim@phonefromhere.com
twitter.com/steely_glint