AltiGen and VoSKY Join Forces on Skype-Enabled VoIP Call Center

AltiGen Communications and VoSKY have announced a partnership bringing advanced Skype-based applications and cost savings to AltiGen's Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solutions for call centers.

The companies said the addition of the VoSKY Exchange VoIP application gateway to AltiGen's complete line of VoIP Phone Systems will equip call centers with a new remote agent, Web Click2Call, VoIP trunking and global direct inward dial (DID) functionality utilizing Skype, a VoIP network.

"This partnership adds a series of industry-first features to our VoIP call center platform that will give our customers useful new call handling abilities as well as further lower their telecom costs," said Jeremiah Fleming, AltiGen President and COO. "The ability of VoSKY Exchange to route Skype calls through our VoIP business phone system marks yet another milestone in our efforts to deliver innovative new business solutions for the VoIP era."

VoSKY Exchange is a Skype-certified plug-and-play rackmount appliance that adds enhanced Skype-based VoIP applications as well as Skype trunks to AltiGen's complete line of VoIP Phone Systems through analog FXS ports, eliminating the need to use PCs or headsets for Skype calls. When deployed as part of an AltiGen call center solution, VoSKY Exchange offers four key enhancements to AltiGen's robust call routing and management capabilities. These include:

- Skype Remote Agent: Allows remote agents to be added to the system in minutes and supported at virtually no cost. Incoming calls can now be routed for free via the Skype network to remote agents using the free Skype client on their computers. Utilizing AltiGen's ExtensionAnywhere feature, remote Skype agents will have the same control and access to AltiGen PBX functionalities as an onsite call center agent. The use of Skype also assures consistently good voice quality over the public Internet.

- Web Click2Call: Enables visitors to a company's website to place free Skype calls to a corporate or third-party call center with the click of a button. VoSKY Exchange will route the call to the appropriate queue in the AltiGen call center system over Skype, reducing the company's toll-free/800 phone number costs. Web Click2Call also helps increase online sales conversion rates by allowing customers to communicate with agents in real time.

- Skype Trunking: Provides a low-cost solution for outbound calls that leverages Skype Pro, a $3 per month domestic flat rate plan, and SkypeOUT international long-distance rates as low as 2.2 cents per minute. These packages allow users to save 90 percent or more on US/Canada calls and 50 percent or more on international calls with no contracts or setup fees.

- Global Direct Inward Dial (DID): Allows businesses to set up local access numbers outside of their cities, states or countries for incoming customer calls. This feature enables companies to create a local market presence anywhere in the world as well as reduce toll-free/800 phone number costs by allowing customers to use phone numbers close to home.

"Skype has opened up new possibilities for enhancing business communications, and AltiGen quickly recognized the potential of our Skype-to-PBX application gateway to bring innovative capabilities to VoIP-based call centers," said David Tang, VoSKY Vice President of Global Marketing. "This partnership is the first to take full advantage of Skype's flexibility, low cost and superior voice quality in a call center environment."