Skype has finally released SILK

Skype VOIP has slowly popping out from their shell and opening up their propietary audio codecs to the entire VOIP industry. Skype has been known to keep their award winning audio codecs private. We all know that Skype has some great in house audio codecs which can deliver great sound quality at much lower bandwidth usage but it wasnt readily available for third party integration.

Skype has finally released SILK, a New Skype-designed and developed default audio codec for all Skype-to-Skype calls. SILK is currently used in the latest version of Skype. If you don't have latest skype version, I strongly suggest you download one, its way better than older version and has superior audio quality.

Skype claims that with SILK, a super wideband audio codec it redefines the entire VOIP market by giving the best audio quality on VOIP calls with almost 50% less bandwidth usage.

What did they achieve with SILK codec:

-improved audio bandwidth going from 8 kHz to 12 kHz, meaning that a SILK conversation sounds like you are in the same room as the person you are speaking with. SILK can go upto 24 Khz.
-provides real-time bandwidth scalability to deal with degraded network conditions

-balancing codec optimization between voice, music and background noise, each of which can have an impact on the overall user experience.

-delivering a robust solution that delivers a more consistent audio experience, regardless of network conditions and an individual user’s voice signature

Skype is now expecting that industry and third party application developers will adopt SILK as a standard in wideband audio. SiLK is available for FREE. It would be interesting to see SILK adoption with Trixbox, Asterix and the likes with wideband hitting the entire VOIP world.

Voip Software Add ons

VOIP is now a buzz word and we have adopted it to make our life simpler than the normal PSTN telephones. The Top 10 list is widely distributed to accommodate the best of the VOIP add-ons and not heavily focusing any aspect of VOIP softphones.

The following list is put together by the author from his personal experience without any influence--

TOP 10 VOIP Software Add-ons

MorphVOX Add-on 1.1: This funny little utility convert you in a monster. IT enables you to transform your voice into anything from Monster to a girl's voice. You just need to use it while talking over Skype, Yahoo messenger, voipcheap etc. This should work with any software cause it doesn't need any specific compatibility and work seamlessly with VOIP softphone. You only need a microphone. So this will work only with PC 2 Phone calls. So won't work with Jajah :-(

ZFone- This cool add-on to Skype and other VOIP softphone lets you make secure encrypted phone calls over the Internet. Zfone lets you whisper in some one's ear from a thousand miles away. Zfone intercepts VOIP packets and encrypts/decrypts your call giving you maximum security against trojan and VOIP sniffer networks.
Skype Lie-Detector: KishKish Lie Detector, popularly known as Skype Lie detector is a funny utility addon to Skype. The utility analyses audio streams over a Skype call in real time and illustrates the stress levels of the other person. Its' time to call your girlfriend and see if she is really in love (with you?) :-)

SkyQube- Skyqube will enable you to forward calls and messages made to your mobile phone or landline via SkypeOut to another number anywhere in the world. So whether you are travelling or on holiday, you won't miss a thing. Time to forget those massive roaming charges for your mobile.

SoliCall-Want to reduce the backgroud noise during your important interview call ? The solicall is the solution to get on with. Solicall will reduce the background noise and improve your VOIP call clarity.

Jajah Phone Buddy- You guessed it right. An add-on to Jajah VOIP which lets you quickly make calls to contacts in Outlook or Microsoft CRM, Microsoft, Access, Microsoft Outlook, Goldmine, ACT, other CRM and Accounts packages etc.

Vemotion- This software lets you add some spice to your regular plain VOIP conversation. You can send voice emoticons, TTS (text-to-speech) ability., You can record the whole conversation as mp3. Nice solution for taking interview or podcasting.

Pamela for Skype- Your very own personal assistant for Skype and the program is certified by skype. It offers an answering machine, auto-chat reply and many more.I hope this list will help you in making your VOIP experience better. Do let me know, if you have any other plug-in or add-ons to share with others.