Rumor says that Skype is planning an IPO and Cisco is interested. Over 70 comments, 300 likes and over 1500 RTs have been added regarding the original TechCrunch article. Time will tell. Connect 1.0 was previously called Skype for SIP and is newly available, out of the beta stage. The company says it’s a working business solution that enables IP PBXs and Unified Communications Platforms to connect with Skype.

Businesses can make outbound calls from desktop phones to landline phones and mobile phones to many global destinations. Skype charges outgoing per minute call rates. How do the businesses receive the inbound calls? What Techistan wants to know is … if Skype connected users place Skype’s Click & Call buttons on their websites which is very cool, and that is how they receive the calls, what about the people with landline phones and mobile phone who want to dial IN to the users of the Connect 1.0 IP PBX? Is that possible also?

Answer: Skype Connect offers the feature of incoming calls also from landline phones or mobile phones to the IP PBX with a choice among Skype’s online numbers, called SkypeIN. Additional features will include auto-attendant, automatic call distribution, call detail records, call recording, call routing, conferencing, and voicemail.

“Since its inception, Skype has been used by many businesses wanting to reduce communications costs. In fact, based on internal research, in the first quarter of 2010, approximately 37 percent of Skype users reported that they use Skype for some business or business-related purposes,” said David Gurlé, vice president and general manager of Skype for Business (also a Microsoft veteran) in a statement.

“Our team’s goal is to empower businesses of all sizes and types with rich communications tools to unleash their productivity, while reducing their telecommunications costs. Following Skype Manager’s launch in May, we are very proud to add Skype Connect to our list of specially designed enterprise solutions. Skype Connect seeks to enable our customers to reduce their phone bills, while protecting their investment in existing telecommunications equipment.”

Since the beta stage Skype for SIP and now … Connect 1.0 was made available, over 2400 IP entities are taking advantage. It works with many traditional TDM PBXs and Key Systems which can add Skype capabilities through IP gateways like AudioCodes, Grandstream and VoSKY. It is certified to work with PBX and UC products from Avaya, Cisco, SIPfoundry, ShoreTel, and other original equipment manufacturers.

The Skype Manager is a web-based platform that enable entities to create employee accounts, allocate Skype Credit and assign features. Something new from Skype is dedicated customer support offered. The lack of that in the past has kept many companies and organizations from taking advantage. This includes real-time chat and is available through Skype Manager.

Other services, platforms, applications and companies (but not all inclusive) that have leveraged, built upon or enhanced Skype tools successfully include Asus, ClearOne, DIDX, freeSWITCH, Grandstream, PrettyMay, RIM, Ring2Skype, and Verizon.