SkypeSync supports Portable Contacts API

 

The SkypeSync desktop utility imports your contacts into Skype from other platforms. The new SkypeSync 1.8 adds sources supporting the Portable Contacts API. The standard is supported by Plaxo, so SkypeSync supports import of Plaxo contacts into Skype.

SkypeSync supports other sources too, including webmail address books from Google and Yahoo! using email standards and mobile phone contacts via the SyncML protocol. I described SkypeSync's mobile data portability last year,

Skype's own Contacts > Import Contacts... wizard in Skype for Windows 4 imports from Yahoo! web mail and Outlook desktop mail. SkypeSync steps in to fill gaps in Skype's coverage.

SkypeSync suffers from a few limits beyond its control.

• Searching the Skype p2p user directory is so slow it makes looking up Skype names difficult.
• Backward compatibility means I now have six "Alec Saunders" contacts instead of one with his five phone numbers. UPDATE: Skype limits max number of phone numbers per Skype contact to three.
• Skype does not permit programmers to search the Skype Find/Prime business directory.
• And there is no place for SkypeSync to store medata from other sources (address information, emails, employers) as notes about my contacts.

On my wishlist for future releases:

• Dozens of other sources.
• Offer intermediate steps before adding contacts.
• Push Skype contacts into Plaxo and other services. 

Step by step... 

Pick your source. Today you can choose from SyncML mobile phones, Outlook, GMail, Yahoo! mail address book, and Plaxo.

I chose Plaxo, where I have more than a thousand contacts pulled from my Google, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, and Facebook accounts.

Skype is picky about phone numbers: they need a "+" in front, in the US a "+1". 

So you've defined your source and set your numbering.

Now you can start your importing. Trial mode limits you to 15 names from any source.

And go...

Whoops. I need to give SkypeSync permission from my Skype client.

So, trying again, SkypeSync adds 15 contacts to Skype.

Results

I buy the software and, with a "full license", import all 3970 of my Plaxo contacts.

They are labeled "SkypeSync" so you can see who's been imported.

Most of my contacts don't have Skype names, just phone numbers: the green phone icon. Some of them have two phone numbers. SkypeSync creates two contact entries, one for each phone number. Inconvenient, but needed for compatibility with older versions of Skype. Skype for Windows 4.0 supports multiple phone numbers for each Skype name, but this hasn't always been the case.

Looking at the screenshot above, some people are offline. They have Skype names in their Plaxo profiles.

Sadly, SkypeSync automatically sent these people an invitation to connect in Skype. Should this be opt-in? Should SkypeSync offer you the chance to not-add a former girlfriend, someone suing you,

Strangely, Skype sent an email notifying the new invitees. This is new to me. 

License	Trialware
Cost	€12, pay with SkypeOut credit
Easy of Use
Does What It Says
Useful
Fun
Social
Certifications	Not Skype certified

tags: skype, 4, dataportability, skypesync, plaxo, software, import, importing, portable contacts, portablecontacts, utilities, extras

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