Skype SILK high quality audio codec licensed for free

Cleve Nettles
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March 04, 2009
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Skype is offering up its high quality audio codec, SILK (as in "as smooth as") for other companies to use.  What is Silk (PDF link)?

SILK is Skype’s signature super wideband audio codec which achieves super wideband audio quality using 50% less network bandwidth than previously required. It is the outcome of a three year long development process in the Skype labs, which focused on four things:

  1. improving audio bandwidth going from 8 kHz to 12 kHz...
  2. providing real-time bandwidth scalability to deal with degraded network conditions
  3. balancing codec optimization between voice, music and background noise...
  4. delivering a robust solution that delivers a more consistent audio experience.

There are two directions where this could affect Apple.  First, applications like Apple's own iChat and other voice over IP applications on the Mac could adopt this technology to improve quality and reliability of voice communications, even over bad connections.  Second, Apple could adopt hardware that can optimize the processing for this codec in their products, namely the iPhone and its mobile products.

The VoIP industry is in a unique position right now.  With Skype owning most of the marketshare (400 million users!), Skype is in a position to dictate how things go.  At the same time, Skype could eventually be a victim of its own success.  Skype makes its money from calling and recieving calls from voice lines.  If every cell phone and home device has Skype on it, no one will pay to call or get calls from land lines.  Obviously they could change their business plan at that point and do something like throw a little annoying advertising into your calls.

As far as SILK goes, all sides of of the conversation need to to have the technology enabled for it to work.  Currently only PC users with version 4.0 of Skype can take advantage of it but word on the street is that Mac users will be able to have a mainstream SILK-enabled version of Skype in April.  (beta is currently available here. 

We like the sound of all of this:P

Comments (4)

Robert (not verified) | March 04, 2009 - 9:49am

There's still a lot between having an audio codec and having a full implementation of Skype. So, I don't know if they are really shooting themselves in the foot. They could block unofficial Skype implementations if they need to, like AOL's full-featured AIM server did for awhile (and may still do). I think they'll be safe.

Also, I think to maintain compatibility with AIM clients, iChat will need to use whatever codec the official AIM client supports. Of course, they could probably sniff the client and use SILK if they are connecting to another iChat user. That is, of course, assuming iChat's voice chat features are currently interoperable with AIM. As far as I know, it is.

9to5Mac Dude (not verified) | March 04, 2009 - 10:33am

I think it would be wonderful to see iChat tie in with other voip companies like Skype. If someone from iChat could call someone on Skype...it would be so cool.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 04, 2009 - 12:20pm

"affect" not "effect"

Mac-o-Rama in Montreal (not verified) | March 04, 2009 - 12:21pm

OK, I'm not one of those Mac-plainers, you know, those people who do nothing but complain about this missing port/feature/model blahblahblah. But I do think that if Apple were to buy Skype (which is for sale, BTW) it would be great. iChat is not perfect (neither is Skype) but Skype is better, works on PC's better, and does VOIP. C'mon, Apple, you have a few bucks sittin' around. I bet you could get it for a deal! Besides, how much is that cash actually earning you these days, what with interest rates at zero? Be smart... buy Skype!