Advanced Skype links

This page has everything there is to know about Skype links and buttons:

• embedding the links to your page
• Skype JavaScript detection
• all the actions
• Links with web status

We recommend you use the Skype button graphics for all these, but you can also use them as text links.

Using Skype links

You can use Skype links in HTML anchor tags. The default action is to call the provided Skype Name or Names, but you can specify other actions. Below are a few examples - read further down to see all of the functions explained.

<a href="skype:echo123?call">Click</a> (make a call to echo123)
<a href="skype:echo123">Click</a> (default action - call)
<a href="skype:echo123?add">Click</a>(add echo123 to your contacts)

Skype JavaScript detection

What happens when somebody clicks on your link and they don’t have Skype? Usually they would get some ugly browser error message which says it doesn’t know anything about “skype:” links. But if you use our JavaScript function, these lucky people will see some info about Skype and can then download it right away. So let’s see how to use it…

Firstly, you need to include this little tag in your web page:

<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/js/skypeCheck.js">
</script>

Then you need to add a little extra property (onclick) onto your anchor tag, take a look at the example below.

<a href="skype:echo123?call" onclick="return skypeCheck();">

That’s it. Click here to see what would happen if you didn’t have Skype and clicked on this kind of link.

All possible actions

 

Call link

When somebody clicks on a call link, Skype will make a call to the Skype Name in the link. You can even use it to call normal phone numbers for people who have SkypeOut.

Example

skype:user1?call (Skype-to-Skype call)

skype:+14035551111?call (SkypeOut call)

 

Add to Skype contacts

This link will add the provided Skype Name to somebody’s contact list. You can also use these links to add SkypeOut contacts. Sharing is good!

Example

skype:user1?add (Add user1 to contact list)

skype:+14035551111?add (Add number to SkypeOut contacts)

 

Start a text chat

You can use Skype links to start text chats with your friends - or even chat with whole group of friends together!

Example

skype:user1?chat (Start a text chat with user1)

skype:user1;user2;user3?chat(Start a multichat with 3 people)

 

Start a conference call

Just like starting a normal Skype call - except with lots of your friends at the same time.

Example

skype:user1;user2?call (Start a conference call with two Skype friends)

skype:user1;+14035551111?call (You can also use SkypeOut numbers!)

 

View a profile

People can see your Skype profile when they click on this type of link.

Example

skype:user1?userinfo (Show the Skype profile of user1)

 

Send a file

People can send you files by clicking on this link. As always, be careful about accepting files, and have your anti-virus scanner turned on.

Example

skype:user1?sendfile (Send a file to user1)

skype:user1;user2?sendfile (Send a file to multiple people)

 

Links with web status

	http://mystatus.skype.com/balloon/skypename
	http://mystatus.skype.com/bigclassic/skypename
	http://mystatus.skype.com/smallclassic/skypename
	http://mystatus.skype.com/smallicon/skypename
	http://mystatus.skype.com/mediumicon/skypename