Why Skype Doesn't Scale

I like Skype, I really do. When I'm traveling and need to keep in contact with friends and family, Skype can really be a lifesaver. Where Skype doesn't scale, however, is in the business world. Within the last few months, even years, Skype has marketed their communications solution to businesses, offering unlimited calling to Skype peers and landlines for a very low monthly rate.

This offer sounds very enticing to businesses, especially SMBs. However, it's not uncommon for SMBs to lose the planning foresight that their larger business counterparts have ingrained into their corporate culture. So, before businesses get excited about low-cost communications using a revolutionary new technology, they should consider these main points when choosing any communications solution.

1) Scalability
2) QoS and SLA
3) Logging / Auditing / Legal Compliance (SoX, HIPAA, etc)
4) Connectivity / Peering

Unfortunately, Skype doesn't scale well on any of the above criteria. In large environments, it simply can't beat a network of PRIs to handle trunking, since Internet bandwidth isn't 100% guaranteed, and there are limited QoS options and no SLA. Second, you aren't going to have auditing control, CDR, or a guaranteed secure route for SoX or HIPAA compliance.

Finally, Skype wasn't meant to replace a PBX. Can you honestly visualize a receptionist using skype trying to handle many inbound calls at once. Sorry, but this solution simply doesn't scale!

• General discussions
• LANs / WANs
• Network Management
• SMB
• VoIP / Convergence
• PBX
• PRI
• Skype
• SLA
• trunking
• VoIP