Skype Now Runs In The Browser: Sans-WebRTC & Via Outlook.com

An tweet by Mark Gillett, CVP Skype & Lync at Microsoft, alerted me to the fact that Skype now runs in the browser via a small plugin.

How do you get going? Skype didn’t overly advertise to me to download the plugin. Actually I had a little time finding it. (probably looking too hard…) Below are the steps I followed:

Goto People and find a user that is online. Now click on Video Call.

You will be asked to agree to a TOU & Privacy Policy.

Now the plugin will start downloading.

The plugin is approximately 4MB. (as shown below)

Watch for the Security Warning and click Run

Done!

You can now start a call either from the People screen or the Communication pane.

The Skype plugin is a different Window. (from the browser)

Call in progress

Pop out IM during a call

You can also launch via the Communication pane.

Our Outlook

Some notes:

• Skype from Browser does not require the Skype app, just the plugin
• The plugin is around 4MB
• Incoming Calls popup much like Skype client
• I haven’t figured how to change audio/video devices (if you know, please comment)
• Make sure geo.gateway.messenger.live.com is not blocked on your network.
• Multiplatform support (source)
• Windows: Explorer 8+, Chrome 19, Firefox 12
• MAC: Chrome, Firefox

It looks like Skype is okay running in the browser. (albeit using a plug-in) Will there be this same openness to running “native” in a browser? Interesting road ahead.

<end>

Skype FAQ: https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12247/how-do-i-call-video-call-and-instant-message-my-outlook-com-contacts

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Outlook.com to Google IM is Live! Adds Jabber/XMPP Support to Outlook.com; Is Skype to Google Next?

Microsoft has just released the ability for www.outlook.com users to Instant Message and see the presence of Google users. Interestingly the same week Microsoft announced and delivered outlook to Google interoperability, Google dropped a bombshell and noted that their nextgen IM/P solution called Hangouts (which will eventually replace Google Talk) would no longer support XMPP federation. Does this mean outlook.com to Google interop is doomed?

Actually not necessarily...at least not right now. Very interestingly outlook.com does not use XMPP federation, as one might expect, to talk to Google users: It appears to use the Google Talk API. What does this mean?

• It means you will need a Google user login associated with your outlook.com account.
• It also means that Google/Gmail users that receive an IM from your outlook.com account will look exactly like it is coming from a normal Google/Gmail user. (In fact, if you are logged into Gmail when an Outlook –> Google IM is occurring, you will see the conversation there)
• It also means all your Google contacts will flow over into the Outlook.com People list.
• It also means that you can IM from Outlook.com (via Google Talk login) to federated XMPP/Jabber based IM servers for as long as Google allows 3rd party clients to login to Google Talk and Google Talk does not remove XMPP federation.

IM/P between Outlook.com and a plain jane XMPP jabber.org IM/P account:

There are several implications of this:

• Outlook.com is becoming a kind of web based multi-protocol client just like Skype application itself! (see my complete blog on this)
• If you have your Google/Gmail account associated with your Outlook.com/Microsoft Account, and you are logging into Skype with Microsoft Account, why couldn't this functionality eventually be brought to the Skype client itself? So Skype to Google would be very possible in exactly the same way Skype to Facebook is currently working.

But isn’t XMPP federation going away with Google Hangouts, the new app that will eventually replace Google Talk? Yes, IM/P between Google Hangouts app and contacts federated to Google via XMPP federation will not work…BUT…conversations between Google Talk and those same contacts WILL continue to work for some time. (not end of life announced yet) Since Outlook.com is really like a 3rd party Google Talk client this continues to work. Google has noted that 3rd party Google Talk client support will not be cut off at this time.

So it appears that Microsoft is just extending it’s existing strategy of having Skype and Outlook.com be mutli-protocol “clients” that login in to various other services like Skype, Facebook, Outlook.com/Live Messenger, and now Google. Perhaps Microsoft just took a page out of the success of the many popular multi-protocol clients out there and decided to do it themselves? That’s what it looks like. <end>

Hangouts Won’t Hangout With Other Messaging Vendors: Google’s New Unified Messaging Drops Open XMPP/Jabber Interop
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/2013/05/hangouts-wont-hangout-with-other.html

Skype becoming a multi-protocol client?
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/2013/02/some-thots-on-skype-federation-becoming.html

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Skype 6.3 Brings Skype to Lync Voice Federation

NOTE: You must have a Microsoft Account associated with the Skype user you want to call. Click Here

Skype 6.3 seems to bring Skype to Lync Voice. With Skype 6.2 we noticed that voice “kinda/partially” worked, but it appears that with Skype 6.3 calls can go in both directions and Caller ID seems to work correctly.

Skype 6.3 required for Lync <-> Skype Voice federation.

In Skype 6.2 the caller ID would not always indicate correctly, in 6.3 this seems to have been fixed and caller ID is indicated correctly in both Lync and Skype.

Video is NOT enabled a this time. (This means Lync <-> Skype voice is AHEAD of schedule and Video is still on track for the timeline Microsoft has indicated)

below is what happens if you try to start video from Lync (as expected)

Below you can see presence coming from Lync to Skype:

If you want my detailed analysis of how Lync <-> Skype federation works technically and behind the scenes, please click here.

Some other Lync <-> Skype articles you might have interest in:

• How Do I Enable Lync <-> Skype Federation from Skype Side? Click Here
• How Much Will Lync <-> Skype Federation Cost? Click Here
• How Does Lync <-> Skype Federation Work Under the Hood? Click Here
• Nov 2012: Lync <-> Skype IM/P Has Started Working: Click Here
• Feb 2013: Lync <-> Skype Voice Has Started Working for Some: Click Here

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#Skype to Lync Voice #Federation Seems to Have Started Working for Some

NOTE: We are hearing feedback from users that if you have Lync Server 2013 with Live Messenger PIC enabled and the Skype user has Skype for PC Version 6.2 audio calls should work.

On November 19, 2011 it was noted (see blog/how-to) that Skype to Lync federation seemed to start working at the IM & presence level after users updated to latest version of the Skype application and merged their Live Messenger ID into Skype using the latest Skype client.

At Lync Conference it was announced that indeed, merging LiveMessenger/Microsoft Account and a new version of Skype will be the actions that enable Lync <-> Skype federation. (blogger Greig Sheridan has done a good job of listing the requirements to get Lync <-> Skype federation working here: Click Here) Also noted was that Lync <-> Skype federation IM, Presence & Voice would be here around June 2013 ETA/timeframe. It appears that while no announcements have been made, Lync <-> Skype Voice federation has started to work for some and at various levels for others. See @shawnharry note below.

@voipnorm has it working both ways with Lync 2013

@MichaelVerso Notes it works one-way for him:

At the moment my experience has been that I can make one audio call from Lync (Skype PC version 6.1.x) –> Skype (Skype Android 3.1.0.6458)  and audio flows, but after hanging up I can’t make another call. Also, I’m noticing that the incoming call notification to Skype indicates “unknown caller”.  It is interesting to note that in the Skype call history the call is listed as “undisclosed_pstn:xxx”. I don’t think this necessarily means Skype is using pstn to deliver the call: it may just be a generic message if caller ID is note received correctly?

So, to summarize: Microsoft has not announced Lync <-> Skype voice federation to be ready at this time, so don’t expect it to work. But it does look like it is working for some, so if it does for you: Enjoy.  Also, it appears Microsoft is making progress towards their mid-year ETA release goal.

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BlueJeans Network: Cloud, Cross Vendor, Multi-Point Video Conference Service Tryout

BlueJeans is inviting all to test their cloud video conferencing system so I took them up on the offer. All you need to do is give some simple information, click on a link, download plugin and…welcome! your in their test, live videoconference and can chat with the friendly meeting facilitator. Below are my notes on what I found.

My Initial Test and Notes

To initially test BlueJeans, I joined the conference using the BlueJeans browser client. This was a very simple join: click the URL, download the plugin (only first time) and your in the meeting. Once in the meeting the controls and UI felt very natural and easy to use.

In the video below I am using the BlueJeans PC web client. In the conference going on below the upper right participant is joined to the meeting using Microsoft Lync 2010 federated to the BlueJeans video call, the bottom right person is using Skype.

In the above screenshot of the BlueJeans PC web interface (Beta) you notice it is pretty much a multipoint video conference. You have the participant list on the right, your own preview at the lower right and upper right you can easily mute yourself. In the lower right you can see the video layout buttons that allow you to select several layouts.

BlueJeans Using Microsoft Lync As an Endpoint Experience

You will get an email that has URL to join via Web/Skype/Lync/and more, click on the Microsoft Lync meeting join URL

This will open Lync/OCS conversation window and you now click Video to join Video call. You will be presented with the below “brady bunch” video inside Lync client. The join and call experience was very smooth and worked correctly the first time.

Since Lync is merely showing one video stream you do not have a participant roster and call control (mute, etc) inside the Lync client, but you will notice a web page popped up when you joined that allow video control and roster. Here is some things I noticed that it provides as information and control

• Roster of participants
• Who is currently talking
• How they are connected via little icon to left of there name (skype/web/lync/polycom meeting)
• Ability to mute video or audio for yourself (and other if you are moderator)
• Video layout/presentation

Notes:

• Call control, participant roster can be controlled by web client that opens
• No video meeting  recording
• No Instance Message
• No PC Collaboration, (BlueJeans is definitely Video Conferencing solution and not gunning for collaboration, ie: desksharing/powerpoint/whiteboarding at the moment)
• Currently it is not a “Lync Certified” solution (but frankly I’m not sure if a service federating to Lync needs to be certified? If you know, comment)
• To Use Lync and BlueJeans you need to have federation open to BlueJeans

What Does BlueJeans do for Existing Lync Users?

• Brings “bradybunch” video to Lync today
• VoIP video/audio meetings to iPad, iPhone and Android via Skype, Polycom
• Have Skype/GoogleVideoChat/Lync contacts in one Video Call

BlueJeans Experience on Mobile Devices: iPad and WindowsPhone

After I saw how slick BlueJeans works on PC Web client and Lync I thought I’d take a quick spin using an iPad. I clicked on the join via Browser button from my iPad and got the below message: “Nice iPad. We normally use a browser plugin to connect you to meeting, but this technique doesn’t work on an iPad…”

So I went about giving it a go using Skype. When you click to join a BlueJean video conference using Skype, the BlueJeans website asks for your Skype name. It will then send you a contact invite which you need to accept. Then you call the resulting contact to join the meeting.

This Skype mobile join did not work perfectly smoothly my first go, but I’m going to write that up as my mistake. But even allowing for that, I would say the join experience is not as smooth as from BlueJean Browser plugin and Microsoft Lync.

Maya, videoconference moderator and salesrep from BlueJeans, was very gracious and we also tested joining the videoconference using Skype for WindowsPhone. This join was going over 3G in rural Pennsylvania and while there was noticeable delay (due to 3G network, not BlueJeans) the video conference worked fine.

Some Blue Jean Mobility Notes:

• No native iPad client, and you can’t join from iPad browser, but of course you can use Skype client on iPad
• Using Skype you need to add a BlueJeans contact to your Skype client.

 

My Initial Thoughts and Commentary on BlueJeans VideoConference Service

• The Web join experience is very slick
• The Microsoft Lync join experience is smooth, and trouble-free
• A BlueJeans mobile client would make mobile experience much better
• No PC collaboration (deskshare/powerpoint/whiteboarding)
• The entry price of $399/month may bar very small businesses
• 25 locations per call limit
• With Office365 P1 plan going for $6/mo/user (Lync with active caller video conferencing included) may be tough going

BlueJean’s Microsoft Lync Program Manager, Raghavan Anand, also notes that BlueJeans Networks is very interested in Microsoft Lync interoperability and welcomes your input.

You can take your own testdrive of BlueJean Live Demo room 10a-2pm PST M-F at:
http://bluejeans.com/demo

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