Remington’s Trial Technology Blog

One of the little known features of Skype is that it can be configured to automatically answer either all calls or all calls from friends on your contact list. For many the auto answer function would be nice to use for some friends and family but no one really wants to allow Skype to automatically answer all calls from ALL of one’s friends. A talented developer has created a small program to run in the system tray that allows you to list the Skype IDs of the contacts for whose calls you would like Skype to automatically answer. Best of all, the developer is distributing it for free at EasyNote.org.

Application in small law firms:

Professional office PBX phone systems are usually setup so you can page someone’s office and speak with the person over the speakerphone without the paged party having to push any buttons or pick up the receiver. Now imagine having the same system but for video communication. Imagine being able to video page your colleagues and administrative staff with from anywhere in the world. This program would be a huge asset to distributed law firms, satellite offices, home users, and more.

Features of the AutoSkype.

1. Automatically answer Skype calls from selected user(s).
2. The application can run in background (Windows Task Tray).
3. May be useful for remote video/audio monitoring and surveillance.
4. No installation required. Just download the zip file from EasyNote.org and unzip the files to a directory you like. Click on the executable file, AutoSkype.exe.

System Requirement:

1. Microsoft Windows.
2. Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 installed. To check if you have .NET framework 2.0 installed, click on “Start” > “Settings” > “Control Panel” > ” Add or Remove Programs” > Looking for “Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0. If you don’t have .NET Framework 2.0 installed, you can download it from Microsoft windows update site or from here

How to use AutoSkype

1. Download AutoSkype.zip from Easynote.org and unzip the files to a directory. Click on the executable, AutoSkype.exe. If Skype has already started, the program will try to attach to Skype and Skype will alert you if you allow AutoSkype.exe to use Skype. Choose “Allow this program to use Skype”. Click OK (see screenshot 1)

1. Enter Skype user name(s) in the textbox for those you want to auto answer the calls., e.g, if you want automatically answer calls from “skyuser_home”, then enter “skyuser_home” (without quotation mark, see screenshot 2).
2. Click on “Answer ‘em” button to put the program in task tray. If the user “skyuser_home” call your Skype, you Skype will then automatically answer the call and start Skype video/audio connections.
3. Right click on the ico of “AutoSkype” in the task tray to bring up context menu which allow you to restore the normal size windows of the program or exit the program.

FAQ:

1. The program was working properly. But now it stopping working. i.e., the program starts OK, but won’t do the auto answering.
   A: Very likely Skype had refused access by AutoSkype once and keep the record. You need to clear up the record from “Manage other program’s access to Skype”. Usually you can access this function from Skype > Tools > Options > Advanced and looking for the links “Manage other program’s access to Skype”.
2. Occasionally, I would like to watch/hear what is going on in my home while I am away without spending thousands for sophisticated remote video/audio surveillance system. Is there any poor man’s way to do so?
   A: You can setup two Skype accounts, e.g. one called “skypeMyname_home”, another called “skypeMyname_office”. Start Skype in your home PC with “skypeMyname_home” account. Then start AutoSkype.exe and enter “skypeMyname_office” as trusted callers. When you are in office, start Skype from your office PC with “skypeMyname_office” account. Call “skypeMyname_home” from your office PC, the AutoSkype.exe will automatically answer your call. You should then be able to see or hear what is going on in your home, really around where your home PC is. Of course you will need a webcam and microphone connected to your home pc.

Disclaimer:

The software or ideas provided by Easynote.org do not have any warrant. Use them on your own risk. Easynote.org does not responsible for any damages or liabilities that may be caused by, directly or indirectly, the use of the software or ideas.

Credits:

1. Examples provided in “Skype C Sharp Example By ZOverLord” helped me a lot in understanding about use of Skype4COMLib.

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