/Skype GSM Gateway v1

If you hate paying big roaming bills while traveling but still want to use your current GSM phone
number to receive/make calls (and SMS) then consider using Skype in combination with this piece of
free software and a cheap USB GSM/GPRS modem.

This device (software actually) is also useful if your country is not in the Skype Online Number list.
So the biggest advantage of this system is actually accepting calls on your own GSM number via
Skype.

Skype Divert application started on server

The idea
Since there is a free Wi-Fi internet connection (almost) everywhere you go now (hotspots; hotels,
coffee shops, malls, ...), we can use this to cut some GSM costs while roaming. The idea is to leave
your SIM card at home connected to your home-GSM network while you reside in other,
foreign-GSM network. You might have already seen something similar on Engadget last year. The
idea is pretty much non-elegant one but it works just great.

Requirements
For this to work you will need USB GSM/GPRS modem with your SIM card connected to your home
PC (with Windows) that will stay "on" during your travel. On that PC (we will call it server) you need
to set up Skype with an additional Skype name (you can create another one like
"my_skype_name_SERVER"). Then you need to start & configure the Skype Divert application that
you can download from this page (red download button bellow). If you don't have it yet, go to
Dealextreme and purchase this cheap GSM/GPRS USB modem. This modem was used during
development and is the only one tested so far. You will also need a simple audio cable to route voice
output of GSM/GPRS modem to sound card's input and vice versa. There are two version of this cable
that you can make: one with the isolation transformers and one without them. Here is shown only
isolated version of cable. (I used the first two transformers that I could get my hands on, and it all
works just great.)
development and is the only one tested so far. You will also need a simple audio cable to route voice
output of GSM/GPRS modem to sound card's input and vice versa. There are two version of this cable
that you can make: one with the isolation transformers and one without them. Here is shown only
isolated version of cable. (I used the first two transformers that I could get my hands on, and it all
works just great.)

Schematics of audio cable (click on picture to enlarge)

Quick and dirty cable

 I also found a case for it :-)

My server configuration (aka Skype GSM gateway)

Setup the Skype Divert application

This application is written in Delphi 7, it is pretty simple and after starting it you need to configure
few parameters. Click on Divert->Setup and popup will appear:
 Skype related setup

In the text-box enter your original Skype name so that the server can recognize only your chat
commands (instructions). If your Skype doesn't start automatically, you can click the first check-box.
Skype can run in "silent mode" where it doesn't popup chat window, call progress window and
notifications while Skype Divert is working. This option can be selected if the server is actually a PC
that is being used daily as a normal PC.

Next tab are modem settings and as you can see there is nothing to set there. All modem settings are
read from Registry by the application.

Modem settings

Last tab are some settings for the Skype Divert itself, and it only has an auto-start option so that
Skype Divert starts with Windows. When checked, a string-key is written in Windows Registry with
the current path&filename where the application is started.
 Application settings

Operation
Now that we have everything set up it is time to test it out. If going mobile, you can use Skype for
iOS, PDA, Android, laptop,... via Wi-Fi or whatever you have at the moment. So, connect to Skype
with your usual Skype name and start chatting with your server. Supported commands for the server
are:

"D" - Dial
"S" - Send SMS
"C" - Issue CUSD Command

Invalid command is treated as "help"

 Invalid command is treated as "help"

"D" - Dial
- To dial a number simply type: D<number> and hit enter. After a few seconds there will be a Skype
(callback) call from server that you need to accept. In this case the USB GSM/GPRS modem is
actually establishing outgoing GSM call and the Skype Divert application is placing a call back to you
via Skype.

Dialing number example

"S" - Send SMS

- To send SMS message simply type: S<recipient_number> <your_sms_message> and hit enter. After
a few seconds there will be a response saying that your message has been sent.

"C" - Issue CUSD Command

- To issue a CUSD command (*command#) use prefix "C". For example the C*100# command will
usually check your prepaid credit balance, command #21# will cancel all diverts, and so on.
 Dialing number example

"S" - Send SMS

- To send SMS message simply type: S<recipient_number> <your_sms_message> and hit enter. After
a few seconds there will be a response saying that your message has been sent.

"C" - Issue CUSD Command

- To issue a CUSD command (*command#) use prefix "C". For example the C*100# command will
usually check your prepaid credit balance, command #21# will cancel all diverts, and so on.

CUSD command for checking prepaid credit example

Receiving GSM call

- To receive a GSM phone call - server will call you via Skype. The caller ID number will be
displayed in Skype chat so you can choose whether to answer it or not.
 Incoming GSM call

Receiving SMS message

- To receive an SMS message - server will dump it to Skype chat so that you can read it and reply to
it.

How does it work?

A small application called Skype Divert is written in Delphi 7. There are many Delphi examples on
Skype webpage here so you can check them out. This application attaches itself to Skype and issues
commands such as PlaceCall, SendMessage, ReadMessage and so on. On the other side, it also
communicates with USB GSM/GPRS modem through virtual COM port that is created when you
connect modem to PC. The application monitors Skype status and GSM/GPRS modem status at all
times.
Here is one example: If the the incoming call is detected on GSM, the application will create a Skype
call to you. Once the Skype call is established the GSM/GPRS modem receives "ATA" command and
the connection is established. When any party ends the call, both connections are closed and we go
back to the beginning.

This simple Skype GSM Interface is working flawlessly for about a month now, and my friend that
has gone to Africa for work is able to use his original GSM number to talk to his family and friends
and keep in touch with everyone else from his hometown simply by using his iPod and Wi-Fi
connection. Most importantly, he can answer GSM calls just like if he was here.