Skype in the Enterprise

Skype is a Microsoft-hosted communications service, featuring voice, video, instant messaging (IM), presence, and file sharing, primarily for consumers and small businesses. However, enterprises may benefit from leveraging Skype’s global reach and features to reduce cost and improve communications. Skype can connect to an on-premises private branch exchange (PBX) and provide low-cost international rates without impacting desktop phone users. Skype can also provide in-country telecommunications services to connect with international customers and reduce the cost and complexity of providing telecoms services to foreign offices. Skype requires a subscription, and some features require configuration of telecoms systems and end-user computers.

PBX Access to Low-Cost International Rates

Skype is most often viewed as a consumer and small business communications service. However, with 300 million users and a global deployment, it is able to provide better international dialing rates than many traditional telecommunications providers. To help organizations take advantage of Skype’s international rates while maintaining their investments in existing PBX solutions and desktop phones, Skype provides a feature called Skype Connect that enables an on-premises PBX to automatically route calls through Skype. This could benefit enterprises, especially those that don’t currently have a large enough volume of international calls to negotiate reduced rates.