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How do VoIP services, such as Skype and Yahoo, connect to landlines?

We have a server connected to a landline using asterisk, so I'm thinking this server will bridge our VoIP conversation and connect it to a landline.

But if this is the case, wouldn't Skype need a lot of servers placed around the whole world just to connect to landlines?

henry
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2 Answers2

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Yep. That's how telephony works. It's unlikely that Skype runs a bunch of servers themselves - they probably license the right to use a commercial telephony service, probably through the backbone carriers (just speculating).

Ben Collins
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  • Oh ya.. That doesn't occur to me. The carrier has some agreements with skype or yahoo so they don't need to put the server all around the world. Thanks! – henry Apr 23 '09 at 15:33
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Yes, to call somebody using landlines with VoIP, you need a server somewhere that is connected to the landlines.

Zifre
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