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Skype "will announce" developer API? But it's already here ...

Earlier this month Skype CEO Niklas Zennstrom announced that Skype for Business will be coming in 2005. One of the new features which, he said, would appear before Business Skype hit the streets, would be a set of developer tools. Well, spot on: it's here already.

"You have to be a programming genius to use them," was the comment from one developer. "They're C++ tools, and not even slightly user-friendly. But if you download the latest version, you'll spot the fact that the API is available in the install log."

Sure enough, this extract from today's install log shows:

21.10.2004 version 1.0.0.94

Can anybody do anything about this? Not yet; but soon. Unofficially, Skype is planning to release the documentation in two to three weeks. But from some swift Google work on the discussion groups it turns out that there are some rather more friendly tools being developed to allow ordinary Web developers to embed Skype "presence" in their pages without advanced programming skills.

Zennstrom has said the API will be one of several upgrades before Business Skype ships next year. They include "base and premium advancements" including:

Anybody who wants to download 40 odd megabytes of video, click here. It shows Zennstrom explaining his plans in considerable detail.

But the enthusiasm for the API is likely to be considerable. It is already possible to build Skype tools into your own web site, or other applications. Nobody officially knows this, of course, because, typically, Skype hasn't actually announced it. But it is there.

For those who don't know what possible use a Skype API might be, a brief explanation: Skype is an instant messenger, but specially designed to allow non-expert users to talk to each other over the Internet. The trick is available with rival IM services like MSN and AOL and Yahoo! but many users find them hard to set up; Skype's install is comparatively idiot-proof. And the API means that programmers can add the Skype IM features to their own work.

For most of us, however, the API is of academic interest only. More significant will be the partner program, under which Skype has apparently allowed third parties to develop simpler tools.

The Skype API allows you to build "presence" into a web site - or any other application, and that sort of thing looks like a valuable tool, for tech support.

For example, there's a beta-test site, to be unveiled in the next two weeks, where a conferencing system has been enhanced, so that the standard PHP threading doesn't just show who posted a message, but also shows whether they are online, and available for Skype chat. Click on the icon, and your request to chat - either via text or by voice - will be passed through the network.

Who is developing this friendlier set of tools? "There's a Canadian outfit, which I can't name yet, which is wrapping the API up in something that you don't have to be an expert C++ programmer to use," said our source. "I think they're doing a Java version, and a Web developer version."

Attempts to get more details were met with a stone-wall NDA disclaimer, but it's clear from bulletin board chat that the system is well advanced, and being deployed by an initial beta test community. We found a well-populated set of debate threads on a secret Web site, where issues were being discussed - but where the discussion can be taken online instantly if you have Skype enabled.

The same applies to blogs; the presence of the composer is signalled as soon as they set their Skype status to "online" or "SkypeMe" and if SkypeMe is picked, then anybody can start a voice conversation.

"It works pretty well, but the drawback is the Skype interface to standard phone systems," said one tester. "The system works astonishingly well in the North American area, where Skype has a lot of PSTN gateways; but European users tend to complain a lot about having serious issues with voice quality."

Another test application being developed is a more comprehensive Skype phone book, where people can list their interests in more detail than in the basic Skype client. Again, the phone book has presence, showing whether it's worth trying to make contact - if the user is offline, the icon is greyed out.

"There are so many applications possible, it's insane," enthused one convert. "But they do have to improve the links to orthodox and alternative phone services. Skype is still far too much of a PC owner's toy, and it needs to reach people with ordinary phone systems. Getting the SIP phone community online would be a big first step."

The API is now there, and installable; but you need not try to use it even if you are an expert C++ coder. The documentation that is required to let programmers crack it won't be released till early November, say insiders.

Meanwhile, if you google for "SkypeMe" you may just be able to track down one or two of the hidden web sites where beta-testers are playing with th new tools ...