SkypeKit is a new collection of APIs that will allow Skype voice and video calls to be integrated into internet-connected device or application. Up to this point, Skype has been able to integrate with some devices (phones, TVs, mobile devices) through direct partnerships, but SkypeKit will open the floodgates for integration with just about any consumer device from any manufacturer.
At Skype, we believe that every connected device is, potentially, a communications device. We envision a future in which you’ll see and converse with the people in your life no matter where you are or what you’re doing — sitting in your car, watching TV in your living room, or just checking the time.
SkypeKit gives developers all the features of Skype in the background while allowing developers to handle the actual presentation and user interface. SkypeKit goes well beyond the current Skype API. It currently supports Linux, with Windows and Mac support to follow in the next few weeks. SkypeKit is targeted at consumer electronics companies and desktop application developers.
This is a good move for Skype. Many consumer devices come with some type of internet connection and this will make it easy for device manufacturers to integrate Skype into their products. While Skype is easy to use for most, there are still some consumers that don’t grasp the concept or have trouble getting it working. By integrating directly into the hardware, Skype can become a new standard of communication and will be accessible to a wider range of customers.
The SILK audio codec is an important piece of this new set of APIs. SILK is the audio codec preferred for Skype calls and they are making it available royalty-free in hopes that it becomes the standard. “The value of the codec is in the breadth of its adoption,” says general manager John Christensen, “we want it to be a common codec.”
SkypeKit is in beta and only available to a limited number of developers so far. If you are a developer and want to integrate Skype directly into your products, you can request an invite to the SkypeKit Beta Program here.