Developers can register for an invitation to the SkypeKit Beta Program beginning on July 23.

So, let me get this straight. You’re announcing that I can sign up for a future announcement. Gee, thanks!

Despite the fact that this behavior disillusions me, I understand the pragmatic reasons why people in Skype’s management and marketing department would be motivated to do this.

Skype’s announcement coincides with the imminent release of iPhone 4. In the past few years, Apple has dramatically changed the communications landscape with the iPhone. The latest device includes the biggest revolution since the original iPhone: FaceTime, which allows iPhone-to-iPhone video calling. Incidentally, FaceTime also represents the biggest threat Skype has ever encountered.

FaceTime is set to catapult VoIP straight into mainstream mobile devices, using IETF-approved open standards SIP and RTP. Apple has promised to make their extensions open as well. When that happens, FaceTime will proliferate on applications and devices other than the iPhone. Skype, meanwhile, has let innovation stagnate around an entrenched, but proprietary protocol. The leverage they hold in the protocol is about to be eliminated.

They know it too. Let’s look at the initial statements given in response given to the “open” question:

Is SkypeKit ‘open’? What will you restrict?
The topic of openness is often debated and its definition can mean different things to different people. For starters, we believe in an open Internet and open standards.

Next time, just answer “no.” If you believe in open standards, back it up by providing protocol specifications. At this point, it’s tough for me to look at what Skype is offering and see it as the future of communications. Open standards have marched forward, while Skype has stood still.

While I don’t claim to be particularly adept at web design, especially compared to the other two featured individuals (Tim Van Damme and Rogie King), my use of Ajax to display a status indicator was highlighted.

Since that time, I’ve had numerous people inquire as to how I added this functionality to my website. In response, I’m supplying the source code that I use. Download: web-presence.zip

Each of the instant messaging networks I have an account on (AIM, Google Talk, Windows Live, Skype, and Yahoo!) have some form of API or web-based badge which can be queried using HTTP. On my server, I am running PHP code which issues requests to the particular service and translates the response into a JSON object. When my page loads, Ajax requests are made to retrieve these JSON objects. Based on presence, the image is updated to reflect whether I am available or away.

For those interested in implementing similar functionality, this code should get you off the ground. Remember to use the required credentials or keys for your account. I’ve made notes where insertions are necessary. Good luck!