iSkoot, I Skype, I almost VoIP with my Treo 650

I expect that sooner or later we will see a full VoIP solution for our Treo but in the meantime I am delighted to say that I found an application called iSkoot from a Cambridge, MA, based startup that is extremely simple to install and use which provides VoIP at least partly using Skype. 

Best of all is the fact that iSkoot is a solution which we can all happily use today without the need for WiFi or a separate application on our Treo as all of the setup and VOIP communication is done on a PC instead (currently iSkoot works only with Skype on a PC but the company intends to also support AIM, Yahoo and MSN messenger services and Mac systems in the near future).

Additionally, in a very happy coincidence, I learned after speaking with iSkoot’s co-founder and CEO that the idea for their service had actually come about after he received an exhorbitant bill for his international calls made with the company’s CTO Treo 650.  We therefore have a Treonaut to thank for this new iSkoot service.

In a nutshell, iSkoot is a Skype companion application which allows you to (via your PC):

1. Automatically forward any incoming Skype call to your Treo
2. Transfer an active Skype call to your Treo for more privacy or mobility
3. Place a call from your Treo to one of your Skype Buddies or to any phone number in the world (this function is estimated to become active within the next few weeks according to the company’s CEO)

The requirements for using iSkoot are:

• A PC running Windows XP (which must be permanently on in order to forward your calls) and ideally a broadband connection
• If you’re already a Skype user make sure that you have version 1.3.0.57 or later installed
• If you’re not already a Skype user then go to Skype’s website download, install and launch it then register a new Skype username
• On Skype’s website, go to ‘Your Account’ (top right), login with your Skype name and password.  Under ‘My Services’ click ‘Buy SkypeOut Credit’ (I bought €10.00 worth) which is required to enable the forwarding of your calls (charged at only $0.022 per minute – 2.2 cents to any of 28 countries ).
• Additionally, you can also click on ‘Buy SkypeIn number’ which will provide you with an additional telephone number (that anyone can use to call your Skype name) .
• Download the iSkoot application

The iSkoot installation:

• When installing the iSkoot version for Skype, Skype will notify you that "another program wants to use Skype." Select "Allow this program to use Skype." Then click OK.
• Once installed, you need to configure the iSkoot software so that iSkoot knows which number to connect to for each of the three available services – Receive, Connect and PlaceCall. This can be either a fixed line number or mobile number.

Below you’ll find a more detailed description of both the inbound and outbound communication scenarios for each of iSkoot’s three available services using Skype.

Receive & Connect

Option A: iSkoot Receive

• A Skype Buddy calls your Skype name
• You are out of the office/home and have set iSkoot to automatically forward your calls to your Treo on [1 XXX YOURTREO]
• After about 3 unanswered rings on your PC, iSkoot initiates a SkypeOut call to your Treo

Option B: iSkoot Receive & Connect

• A Skype Buddy calls your Skype name
• You are at the office/home and want to answer the call on Skype
• Click on the iSkoot pop-up that appears asking you to ‘Cancel Forwarding’
• After a while speaking on Skype you realise that you need to leave but would like to continue the call on your Treo
• Right-click on the iSkoot tray icon and select ‘Connect’
• Your Skype call is seamlessly transferred to your Treo number where you can continue your conversation

Receive & Connect with SkypeIn

As before, both Receive and Connect options A and B will work perfectly with the SkypeIn service.  The difference is that whereas before the incoming call was initiated from a PC by one of your Skype Buddies in this case the inbound call is made to your SkypeIn number instead using any phone.

PlaceCall

Lastly and most importantly is iSkoot’s PlaceCall service which as I mentioned before is not yet active but which promises to deliver VoIP calls via Skype when it becomes available in a few weeks time.  Evidently, one of the primary benefits of using the PlaceCall service would be to reduce your international call charges which will cost only 2.2 cents per minute in many cases (plus your standard airtime charges).

The currently expected functionality of iSkoot PlaceCall will be such that by sending a text message, iSkoot will connect you with either a Skype buddy or another mobile or landline phone number.

• To connect to a buddy, send a text message with the buddy name (e.g., skypebuddy) to dial[at]iskoot.com. If you set up a speed dial number with Skype for the buddy, you can just send the buddy speed dial number.
• To connect to a phone number, send a text message with the phone number to dial[at]iskoot.com (recommended that you add this email address to your contact list). Send the number as you would when dialing internationally direct, using 01 in place of + sign. For example 01(country) (city) (number). You will be charged by SkypeOut rates.
• After you enter the number, you will need to be authenticated to ensure that only your phone has access to this feature. iSkoot will send a text message to your telephone and ask that you enter this number at the iSkoot authentication Web page.

The proposed PlaceCall functionality is certainly a great starting point but there are undoubtedly easier ways that this could be setup and also provide a closer integration with our Treo.  For example:

• The current PlaceCall service will act somewhat similarly to a standard callback service initiated by an SMS message.  In the case of a PlaceCall to a phone number, once the message is authenticated iSkoot will initiate two SkypeOut calls – one to your Treo and the other to the phone number you want.  A more direct approach might be making a call to your SkypeIn number, somehow accessing and authenticating with iSkoot and then dialing the number you want.
• Instead of using SMS (which is not always free in Europe for example) a PlaceCall could be inititated via email instead.  Additionally, a separate Treo application integrating with our Contacts could save us from having to manually enter the number that we want to dial each time by providing us with direct SMS or email functionality for example.

I will continue to try to find us a full VoIP solution for our Treo.  As you will know, Skype have repeatedly made statements that they have no current plans to support the PalmOS.  However, this might change once a Linux kernel is developed for the PalmOS since Skype does plan strong support for Linux.

Another company, GPhone, used to have a PalmOS solution but it no longer supports it.  Meanwhile, I have contacted other VoIP players who confirm that it would be possible to port their existing solutions to PalmOS but they have not yet been presented with a ‘business case’ to do so.

At any rate, over the coming weeks, I plan to post a number of other reviews, useful tips and tricks for using iSkoot, Skype and hopefully other VoIP solutions with our Treo – now it’s finally getting interesting and promises to be fun.

UPDATE: Please read this post about how to use Skype and iSkoot to Build your Mini Mobile VoIP Gateway and $ave.

You may also like to read Skype and Bluetooth with my Treo.

Treonauts want their voices heard over IP…