Interview with Jaanus Kase from Skype

Some time ago we made a mention of Skype on Linux in one of our short newsflashes called 'Quickies'. We were very pleased by the way it nicely blends itself into the KDE desktop. Now we contacted the Skype people where we came in touch with Jaanus Kase who took time to answer our questions.

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Please introduce yourself.

I am working in Skype project management team, and one of my tasks is to
manage Skype for Linux - collect feedback from users, work with developers,
testers and external parties. I don't do actual coding myself, but I do a
lot of design and quality assurance. I'm using MEPIS, SuSE 9.1 and Java
Desktop System Release 2, and Windows XP.

When will version 1.0 for Linux arrive?

The version 1.0 release that was launched on July 27 was for the
Windows platform, as well as the SkypeOut service. The Linux version 1.0
is on its way and new versions are coming out for closed testing all the
time and will reach the public once they're ready. There will not be a
significant leap in features between before-1.0 and post-1.0 versions
- it's a gradual evolution as we continuously innovate and improve
the software.

The Linux client doesn't seem to have the full functionality of the
Windows version. In particular, it lacks the advanced settings tab, which
limits Skype to the default sound device and makes using a headset
difficult. Are there plans to more fully develop the Linux client?

Yes there are plans and in fact, the sound device selection will be available
to the public soon. The goal for the Linux version is to bring it on par with
the Windows version feature- and quality-wise.

The Skype website does mention the amount of downloads but how many
people do you think are using Skype?

Today we know have just over 10.5 million registered users on Skype as we also
track this information. The concurrent online users figure, which you can see
in the Skype client, is approaching half a million. These are very
significant numbers and they are growing all the time.

How does Skype compete with for example MSN which has the largest share
of the instant messaging market?

Skype offers free superior sound quality Internet
telephony. In addition, it includes:

  • Conference calling - enables simultaneous and seamless voice communication
    between groups of up to five friends, family or colleagues. The Linux version
    currently has only conference client but will have hosting too.
  • Global Directory - the user-built global Skype contacts directory with
    numerous search options and an easy add-a-contact tool
  • Customization - My Picture image display
  • Mobility - login into Skype account on more than one PC anywhere in the
    world.
  • Multiple Skype accounts on one PC

In comparison with other IM/voice clients, we can ensure:

  • Better usability in networks. MSN and many other VoIP providers have voice
    calls, but those cannot penetrate firewalls or NAT. Skype has solved this
    problem. The same goes for other forms of communication (file transfers,
    instant messages) that sometimes don't go through firewalls.
  • Better performance. MSN is server-based, meaning that performance suffers in
    peak hours and users simply cannot do voice calls due to server overload.
    Skype calls are truly P2P, involving the distributed network itself for
    routing calls, so it scales up very well and does not suffer from this kind
    of performance problems.

We are working on adding more user requested features to the software, such as
video calling, etc.

Are there any plans to allow the Skype client to connect to other
networks, e.g. MSN, ICQ, Yahoo!, Jabber! etc., like many Linux IM clients?

We believe in interoperability. However, our main goal is to respond to our
users' requests and needs, and to focus on continuing to innovate and make
Skype the best offering for Internet telephony. Connecting to other networks
is currently not a user requested feature for us to make it a priority at the
moment.

How many people are working fulltime on Skype?

We have approximately 45 people working on Skype.

Why did you consider writing software for Linux?

Skype for Linux was one of the most requested developments from our user base,
but also because we see Linux as an important emerging PC desktop platform.
This is illustrated by the fact that many major vendors are starting to offer
Linux systems (HP, Sun, IBM to name just a few), and that many companies,
government institutions and local governments in Europe, Asia and elsewhere
have announced their migration to Linux. The proportion of Skype for Linux
users is still small as compared to those running it on Windows, but we
expect it to increase over the coming years.

Simply put, we want everyone to be able to run Skype and talk to their
friends, family and colleagues, regardless of what platform they use or
whether they have a computer at all. Embedded and mobile devices, some of
them on Embedded Linux, are an important future development path for Skype.

Skype is released under a proprietary license. It was mentioned in the
forums that you may be experimenting with an open source API. Can you
tell us a little more about that?

The API is going to be available to other apps over a remote call protocol
when the Skype client is running. Other apps can then call Skype functions
such as "call this contact", "send IM to this contact" and Skype also
notifies other apps about incoming calls, IM-s and other events. A simple
usage scenario would be to have a Skype Name field in address book
applications and a button for calling those persons. If you then click it, a
Skype call is placed.

You invite people to contribute translations for Skype via the forum,
which then become the property of Skype. Have you considered a more open
community approach, such as that used by the KDE Project?

We see the forum as an open community and we encourage it very much - people
upload translations, other people can immediately download and modify them.
In general, we try to maintain a friendly relation with various Linux
communities including KDE, and some Skype for Linux developers also
contribute to KDE apps as their hobby projects.

Are any of those hobby contributions related to Skype in any way?

Currently no.


Create conference...

Have you considered contributing to Qt or any other Free Software
projects as part of Skype's development?

We might do that if we get results in our work that would be of value to the
community as well as OK to publish according to our license and IP
protection policy. However, currently Skype is UI-wise not a very complex
project and most of the development effort goes into the proprietary P2P and
voice engine that are proprietary code. However, there are some interesting
utilities we have done, for example for reusing the same language files and
translations in Windows and Linux versions, that we will make available to
our users.

If an open source Skype client (not necessarily your one) could be
released as part of KDE, you would have your product shipped in almost
every Linux distribution, and localized by KDE translators. Would that not
outweigh the financial benefits of your closed source model?

Short answer: no. Getting shipped in any Linux distribution is still a small
percentage of users, as compared to Windows users. However, having said that,
we keep a close eye on the Linux community and its various business models.
We are truly multiplatform, already having Windows including Pocket PC, now
Linux and upcoming Mac, and we learn from all the users and business models
of all the platforms and try to pick the best experiences from each.

Skype currently uses Qt for the Linux GUI. Have you considered using
Qt for all three clients, and possibly integrating Skype for Linux with the
KDE libraries?

We have considered it, but currently we stay with the native toolkits for
each platform - those that our team members have most experience with.
However, the world is changing constantly and we cannot say with certainty
what UI toolkits we will be using in the next year or five years. We will
always be using the toolkit that is the most efficient for us to work with
and provides the best user experience.

Skype for Linux will not be closely integrated with KDE libraries, at least
not the core part of it. While there might be add-ons, developed by either
Skype or the users that have KDE-specific functions, we already have users
who work with Skype for Linux on many different window managers and desktop
environments, and therefore we want to stay quite desktop-independent.

Dot Categories: 

Comments

by MacBerry (not verified)

Wasn't it AIM (or ICQ) ?

./Maciek

by Niek (not verified)

It was... 5 years ago.
MSN is clearly the most used IM service, at least here in Europe. In Holland, MSN is even bigger: according to this article [1], 85% of the internet chatters are using MSN. That's 22 million chats a day, on a population of 16 million people.

1. http://www.vnunet.nl/nieuws.htm?id=172709

by cm (not verified)

> MSN is clearly the most used IM service, at least here in Europe

Hmm, not where I live. I cannot talk for all of Germany
and I don't have any stats, but not a single one of my friends
has an MSN account that I know of. We've more or less "standardised"
on ICQ. And this has nothing to do with being Anti-MS or something,
there are lots of Windows-only users among them.

by Cesare Augusto ... (not verified)

Yep! As far as I know MSN isn't the most popular IM service here in Europe. I'm from the Union too. I live in Italia and in my State, like in Germany, most of people do use ICQ. It's not a matter of being Anti-Microsoft, but simply in the EU MSN isn't the most popular service. Bigger EU States (Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, France,...) still use ICQ as their main IM sistem.

by anonymous (not verified)

I'm European too, have friends in the states and Canada and most of my American friends use AIM while most of my European friends use YIM. But,I guess that the most popular IM service in the US/Canada is AIM and in the EU is MSN. Having said that, most geeks I know in the EU/US/Canada don't use MSN.

by basel (not verified)

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i am very loving for canada and job because i am active
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by XiPHiaS (not verified)

Well, I'm Dutch, but living just across the border, in Germany. I can tell you that most of my Dutch friends are using MSN and most of the German people I know have ICQ.

by çakam sana (not verified)

msn bommm

by suy (not verified)

I don't know in other countries, but in Spain, MSN is unfortunately, the most popular messaging system. I don't know *anyone* who uses an IM system different than MSN (of course, ignoring geek friends, who use IRC or Jabber).

by QuantumSoul (not verified)

In Poland, where I live, we have an interesting situation. Poland is completely divided by its own IM systems: Gadu-Gadu and Oxygen (Tlen). American systems like MSN, AIM, ICQ and such are nonexistent here. Although I know 1 (one) person with MSN account, I dont know anyone using ICQ or AIM..

by Mikel (not verified)

Yes , but canada most popular is http://pharmacy.com.md
Thank you

by Johan Thelin (not verified)

> However, there are some interesting utilities
> we have done, for example for reusing the same
> language files and translations in Windows and
> Linux versions, that we will make available to
> our users.

Isn't that a Qt feature? I use Linguist to create multi-platform translations.

by Jaanus Kase (not verified)

> Isn't that a Qt feature? I use Linguist
> to create multi-platform translations.

Yes and no. We are reusing the language files from Skype for Windows that is currently implemented in Delphi that uses a different translations format. So we had to bring those over to Qt. But the Qt interface and file formats are very clean so it was pretty easy to do that.

by Mr. X (not verified)

That sounds a bit strange to me.
What's the point of using Qt for the Linux version and Delphi for the Windows version.
Qt is a cross-platform toolkit.
Why not use it on both platforms?

by Mario (not verified)

Maybe you should read the article?

by Jason keirstead (not verified)

The artivle doesn't make it clear really.

It says they want to use the "native toolkit". But how is using Delphi using the native toolkit? As far as I know, if you use Delphi you're normally using Borland's toolkit. And how is Qt a "native toolkit" for Linux? QT isn't geared any more towards Linux than Windows or Mac or Qt/Embedded.

And the argument still doesn't hold water. When you compile a QT app on Win32, it looks *exactly* like Win32. It basically is native. Same with OSX - it picks up the Coca look.

So I really don't get it - is it just me or does it sound like they are wasting a whole lot of developer resources here?

They simply started with Delphi on Windows and that's what those developers are most familiar with.

Jo

by Daniel Polistchuck (not verified)

Hi Jason,

Delphi doesn't use Borland's toolkit, but a class library (VCL) that directly interfaces to the Win32 API, and, thus, uses the Windows "native toolkit" (USER32.DLL, etc.).

Cheers,

Daniel

I think other companies would benefit from knowing how many users there might be for a linux version of their application.

Well done Skype regardless though. One day I must even check again to see whether Skype's merchant bank security checks allow me to use my credit card from abroad (kinda key for phoning home I always thought....)

by Frej (not verified)

"Open source API".. That just cracks me up.

come on.. how can an api be open source? It's just an interface.

by JasonH (not verified)

Well, keep in mind that he's not a programmer. Programmer's tend to be nit-picky about wording, especially when it involves programming topics. In this case, I'm sure he meant a "well-documented API". IMHO, that's a reasonable effort to allow 3rd-party tools.

by Me or somebody ... (not verified)

I used to use a Windows product called Peoplecall. It was the only application that I could not find an equivalent Linux product.

Skype is easier to use than Peoplecall and works beautifully under Linux. I have been calling friends and family all over the world with Skypeout and the sound quality is awesome. Better yet, unlike Peoplecall I do not have to remove my laptop from the router and connect directly to the net, which both was a huge inconvenience and less secure.

Skype is a real killer app for Linux and I, for one, truly appreciate the fact that Skype isn't doing what every other proprietary vendor usually does, which is to be oblivious to the Linux market or to release a second-class app.

I just hope Skype continues to provide timely releases that install great on my Mandrake systems.

Finally, a few things that need improvements.

I move between my laptop and desktop. It would be great if there was a way to export my Skype contacts from one to the other so that they are maintained in sync. I know I can copy the whole .Skype folder but that's a bit of a hack and not very elegant for many desktop users, who may never see the hidden folder.

A great feature would be if Kontact would include a field in the address book that would allow you to call your Skype friends by clicking on their contact info. That way, you don't need to keep the contact info in two different places.

Equally nice would be to be able to connect to the skype network within Kopete by using a published API, so that I could do all my IM from one place.

Overall, very impressed and very much looking forward to the 1.0 Linux release.

Thanks and keep up the great work.

by TomL (not verified)

I'd like that Skype button in kontact's addressbook, but I'd also like one for vonage, which should be easy to do. I'm thinking about writing a python applet which uses dcop (if possible) to do the same style name completion as kmail and then uses the vonage web server to dial the associated phone number.

by Rob Kaper (not verified)

Why am I reading about a proprietary application that does not currently use KDE technology and "will not be closely integrated with KDE libraries" in the future either?

Perhaps we've "got the Dot" but I'd rather get some KDE news.

by wilbert (not verified)

I think because some questions are asked regarding KDE and FLOSS, this is relevant in a way.

by ac (not verified)

Yes, at least a question whether they'll offer/support Kopete integration anytime soon should have been asked.

by Rob Kaper (not verified)

1. s/Kopete/KDE IM proxy/

2. I don't think the questions were wrong. I actually like the interview, but it's hardly any KDE related news. The best I can make of it in KDE context is an unfortunate PR failure regarding the benefits of the KDE libraries and desktop environment.

I'm hoping Michael Robertson picks this up. Linspire has strongly chosen for a single desktop distribution and I bet they would be keen on working together with Skype to offer a version which is not just good, but great. This would have been something the KDE League could have jumped at when it was around. I'm not sure whether it's eV material but I'll send a copy of this post to the membership.

The KDE community should not pick a prefered partner though. I appreciate Linspire's vision of the Linux desktop (basically: "pick KDE and make it better"), but as a community we should be neutral. If I find time perhaps I could setup a Qt2KDE project which can intermediate between the open development community of KDE and its vendors with regards to KDE support in proprietary applications and with a focus on applications already in Qt.

@Fabrice, Tom: interested in this? I think there are huge PR chances when an interview like this can end with "yes, I would be interested in using KDE in cooperation with a commercial vendor of it" instead of "no thanks". Project might be a big word, but KDE would greatly benefit if the result of interviews like these is that there _will_ be more KDE software.

by Anand Rangarajan (not verified)

"I'm hoping Michael Robertson picks this up. Linspire has strongly chosen for a single desktop distribution and I bet they would be keen on working together with Skype to offer a version which is not just good, but great. This would have been something the KDE League could have jumped at when it was around. I'm not sure whether it's eV material but I'll send a copy of this post to the membership."

Michael Robertson, aside from being the CEO of Linspire, Inc., is also the CEO of SIPphone (www.sipphone.com) which is a competitor to Skype. I don't think SkypeOut users can even call SIPphone users at the present time.

Anand

by ealm (not verified)

Both Linspire Inc's own SIP solution PhoneGaim (which is better imo), and Skype are available in CNR.

by CraigB (not verified)

Good idea but a little late Linspire already has Skype in CNR. Check it out in CNR

Hmm don't understand how to make a html link on this site :(

by Will Stephenson (not verified)

Re 1). If any Skype people are reading this and would like to see the 'Skype button' in Kontact I can give you some pointers on how to use the KDE IM proxy libraries to expose your API to KMail, KAddressbook, Konqueror, and any other KDE apps that pick it up (Atlantik, Rob!). Kopete and Konversation are already there, join the party.

Alternatively you could drive Skype directly from Kopete as a Kopete plugin, using Kopete's existing KIMProxy implementation, but that would be considerably more work.

by Aaron J. Seigo (not verified)

because it uses Qt, which means KDE and Skype have a common foundation. it is news today when a significant proprietary desktop application is released on Linux, especially one using toolkits which are best described as "KDE friendly". this is the kind of news that will help other ISV to gather the courage and investment to follow suit so that one day it isn't news anymore.

and remember how some rather vocal people like to say that KDE isn't viable because Qt requires per-developer licensing for closed source apps which makes it non-viable for such things? well, this kind of news helps dent that strawman pretty effectively.

does that explain the relevance clearly enough for you, Rob?

by M (not verified)

If this interview confirms anything then that Qt is a failure as a cross platform toolkit. Skype have chosen other toolkits on other platforms. Its nice though that they saw Qt as the "native" toolkit for linux.

by Rob Kaper (not verified)

No. I maintain that proprietary use of Qt is not news, much less KDE news. Opera has been doing it for years and Skype's choice of Qt is not even dedicated, they will not be using it on other platforms.

It's a bit ridiculous to throw in an argument on per-developer Qt licensing for closed source applications. If we're going to showcase Trolltech customers in KDE PR, we should at least pick the ones that do choose the KDE environment on top of Qt.

by Anonymous (not verified)

Perhaps you should run your own only KDE news site - oh, I remember you already did and failed.

by Fabrice Mous (not verified)

That sounded a bit sarcastic ...

@Rob: I think you are looking at this a bit too rigid. Anyway I'm always willing to listen to ideas so feel free to email me. Keep in mind that I don't agree on several things you say about how to promote KDE on websites like KDE-apps.org and dot.kde.org. Doesn't stop us from discussing about this.

Ciao

Fab

by Oleg Girko (not verified)

It would be great to have Kopete plugin which provides Skype functionality. Currently, I use 4 different instant messengers simultaneously, and running 4 different applications is not convenient. I understand, that Skype uses proprietary codecs and it's not realistic to expected to see it's source code or protocol specifications in nearby future. But what about providing a binary library with documented API wich implements Skype communication functionality without GUI? This library could be used to build plugins for existing multiprotocol IM clients, such as Kopete, Gaim and others.

by JasonH (not verified)

Perhaps you didn't read the part where he said: "The API is going to be available to other apps over a remote call protocol when the Skype client is running."

Roughly tanslated: "If you want a Kopete plugin, then write one."

by AC (not verified)

I prefer to use a skype-library with kopete, with this solution I still need to run two IM-programs (skype and kopete), I prefer to make calls to friends (phone and voip) and only using one IM (kopete).

by Martin (not verified)

I would guess that Skype would like you to run Skype, though. Not "skype-library". And they can. That's what "proprietary" is all about...

by Ian Monroe (not verified)

I think he's basically saying someone should implement the Skype protocal in an OSS fashion and let Kopete use it.

by Justin Lawrence (not verified)

Surely MSN,Yahoo etc are also proprietry and yet there are plugins for those? I think having a skype plugin/library for Kopete is a great idea and is inevitable.

by Apollo Creed (not verified)

Does Qt run on PocketPC? (He mentions that the software runs on PocketPC as well). If so, is it the same binary as for Windows?

by ac (not verified)

Windows CE aka PocketPC is completely different from the usual NT line of Windows systems so there's no chance they use the same binary for both.

by Jaanus Kase (not verified)

Skype for Pocket PC is a separate binary app.

by TimLinux (not verified)

I've been using skype for quite a few months now, and its great (even if it is closed source :-( ).

I do have a couple of niggles & questions:

1) SkypeOut drops calls and generally is not stable enough to reliable use instead of a converntional telephone. Particularly on the long distance calls I make back to South Africa.
2) I wish I could set my own password. It sounds dumb, but I have it installed on a bunch of different pc's and itd be much easier to be able to use a password of my choice.
3) Is there a usb handset that works under linux? I'd like to get one but dont want to waste money on somethig that doesnt work.

Many thanks for a cool app!

Tim

by Jaanus Kase (not verified)

Tim,

1. SkypeOut situation is improving constantly, you can keep track of it in our forums
2. You can change your Skype password in File - Options - Privacy and also on the web
3. USB handsets should work fine since "USB audio" is a pretty standard thing. No advanced functions though, such as transmitting keypad button presses, software volume control etc, unless the manufacturer has a Linux driver which usually is not the case.

by gnilbeil (not verified)

may the sections of Name and Comment in skype.desktop
have different languages?