GMail as a Skype replacement? Nope . . .

August 27, 2010 at 8:57 am · Filed under Miscellaneous

Over the last couple of months I have started to rely on Google Voice (GV) and have been eagerly awaiting the integration of VOIP with Google Voice.  My current solution of using GV with Skype is almost perfect, but I am hoping that Google VOIP can eliminate the pesky “where’s my voicemail” problem with Skype.

Anyway, this new Google feature was enabled on my account yesterday.  While it holds some promise for me once GV is moved into GAFD, it has too many caveats today.  Why?

Because the in-browser VOIP phone is a flawed premise for receiving calls:

• Hunting for the incoming call dialog within a browser tab is a terrible user experience.  Perhaps they can fix this through an extension that allows a non-modal, “always on top” popup for notification of incoming calls. 
• What if your browser stops working, is restarted, etc?  You don’t get your phone call.  Of course, you can say the same thing for the Skype client (i.e., if it isn’t running you don’t get your call), but I restart my browsers several times a day.  And browsers crash a lot more than Skype (or Google Talk), for that matter. 

Google really should resuscitate the Google Talk client – or the Google Voice Desktop App – and enable the same functionality there.  In fact, I’ll go further and say that they will have to release a native Windows client if they want enterprise adoption of GV / VOIP.

Granted, the in-browser premise is great for the casual user, making outgoing calls, or as a backup when away from your actual work environment, but it just doesn’t work as a Skype replacement.

Does anyone know if the the GV Desktop App is actually dead?  The last reference I find to it is the Arrington post: Google Voice Desktop App Launch Delayed, May Be Scrapped.

Tags: GAFD, GMail, GV, skype, voip

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Skype 2.0 eliminates the “Skype Scramble”?

December 6, 2005 at 11:16 am · Filed under Miscellaneous

There has been a lot of recent discussion about Skype 2.0, what integrating video does for Skype and if it even matters. I have 2.0 beta and am still using it for (just) voice calls.

One thing that occurred to me, though, is that video calls (w/microphone and speaker-enabled cameras) might help reduce what I call the “Skype Scramble”, or for short, “Skrymble”.

If you use Skype (or any other computer / VOIP software), you know what I’m talking about. This is when your computer starts to ring and you start scrambling for your headset. It often goes something like this:

1. Computer starts ringing.
2. Where is my headset? There it is. Grab it.
3. Begin untangling the wires.
4. Instant message the caller to say “hold on, I’m untangling my wires.”
5. Settle for your wires being hopelessly tangled and crouch close to your computer.
6. Answer the call.
7. Say “hello” a few times though you cannot hear anything.
8. Adjust your headset volume through its built in dial.
9. Say “hello” a few more times. Still cannot hear anything.
10. Realize your computer volume is too low for voice. Adjust that.
11. Now you can hear. Say “hello” again because the caller clearly cannot hear you.
12. Flip the “mute” switch on your headset.
13. Proclaim success. Apologize.
14. Enjoy your free call.

A video camera with integrated mic and audio mitigates this problem, right?

At least if it is plugged in . . .

OK, so maybe I don’t see why Skype 2 matters either.

Tags: headset, skype, voip

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