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Skype Products and Mac Computers

Common Questions About Using a Mac With Skype-Based Products

One of the most frequently asked questions is how well our products, Skype and Mac computers function together. We will continually update this section of our web site as we test our products on various Mac systems. If you have any additional tips or tidbits, please contact us and we will be happy to credit you with the information.

Atcom's AU-100 VoIP Internet Phone

The Atcom's AU-100 is recognized by a Mac computer with OS X and a USB port as a USB Audio Device (the drivers are built-into the device itself and are not with the software). The software that is necessary to use the buttons on the phone, however, is only useable by a Windows-based operating system at this time, so even though button functionality will not be available, normal operation by using just the phone itself for talking through and using the chat software to start/end the call is possible. Although some users have speculated that a Windows emulator on the Mac may allow the button software to work, it has not been tested so we cannot say if it is a valid work-around.

Configuring Yealink's SkyMACMate

Note 09.18.2006:  AmperorDirect has determined that SkyMACMate is not currently compatible with the Intel processor-based Mac systems and shows to be not fully stable with G5 systems as well.  G4 and below have not reported any problems with compatibility.

Unlike Windows users who use Yealink's SkypeMate and can configure several different ways to have their Skype device work with their system, Mac users are more limited on just what they can accomplish in the way of being flexible with their systems.

We have been listening to our customers asking for help in getting their Skype devices to work with a Mac the way they want it to. Well, after talking with the manufacturer, we have finally come up with some solutions to some of the requests we have received, and we are happy to show you how they work.

Below are fixes for using your Skype device without needing to have a land-line (now default in the new version), and how to change the default setting on switching between USB & land-line for making calls. Read on, and we'll add more as we get it.

• Make sure that neither SkyMACMate nor any previous version of SkypeMate is currently running.
• Go into applications.
• Right-click (control-click) SkyMACMate -> Show Package Contents
• In contents, goto MacOS
• In MacOS you should see three items: SkyMACMate, PhoneAbout, and Custom.ini.
• Double-click to open the application.
• If the system tells you that there is no default application for viewing the file, choose TextEdit

[ Audio ]
SPKVolume = 50
MICVolume = 100
[ Device ]
iRingIndex = 0
bBoxDefaultPSTN = 1
bDialPopupSkype = 1
bW1DAutoSelectChannelAddress = 1
nW1DFixedChannelAddress = 0
iBoxOutputCIDType = 1
bRefusePSTNWhenSkypeTalking = 1
bRefuseSkypeWhenSkypeTalking = 0
bPhoneAsSpeaker = 0
bPlaySkypeRingToDevice = 1
szBoxTurnCommand = *

No land-line:

To change the device from defaulting to PTSN (or POTS) telephone "line" to "USB" (the new version has this changed by default), change the bBoxDefaultPSTN value from 1 to 0. Make sure you only change the number and not any spaces before or after the number because the configuration file needs to find everything exactly where it expects it, and if you delete or add extra spaces, then that may cause the device to work in ways that would make your hair fall out.

Switching between USB & Line:

To change the device to switch between USB and PTSN (POTS) lines, change szBoxTurnCommand from * to whatever you choose. Keep in mind that whenever SkyMACMate detects that key combination, it will switch from one to another and it just might do so when you least want it to. Some people have expressed an interest in ** as the switch pattern so they could use some phone menu options without switching lines. This is how you would do so.

After making the change and saving the file, launch the SkyMACMate application. After about 15 seconds or so you should see that the device automatically switches from Line to USB. If it doesn't, then make sure that Skype is running as well. Another method that we have tried and found to work is to change the line: bBoxDefaultPSTN = 1 to bBoxDefaultUSB = 1 the same result happens no matter which way you try it. BUT, if you have both listed, you'll find that the device keeps switching between USB and Line - even though the lines tell it to do the same thing. So, one or the other, but not both.

Either way, whenever you start SkyMACMate, the device will show Line for about 15 seconds or so before switching over to USB every time. After that it should remain at USB unless a land-line call is made or received.

Yealink's B2K VoIP Phone Adapter

The LB USB-B2K Internet VoIP Adapter, can now be used on a Mac running OS X 10.3 - Panther, or 10.4 - Tiger with the latest SkyMACMate software from Yealink installed.

A Mac system with a USB connection will recognize the adapter because of the built-in drivers on the device, and now will be able to install the SkyMACMate software for full utilization of the unit.

Now, in a Windows system the SkypeMate software has features that will allow you to change the default way to use the B2K from "line" (regular telephone) to "USB" (for Skype calls first.)  The Mac version currently does not have this feature, but the newest revision defaults to USB and there is a configuration file you can modify to change the default.   This comes in handy if you decide to use Skype for all of your telephone needs and get rid of your regular land-line, because if the default way to make a call is through "Line", but you do not have an active land-line connection, the phone will not work.  Oh, you can still receive calls through Skype, and you can make calls if you start them from the Skype software, but the phone won't respond when you press "*" to switch to the USB connection.  We have found that when you remove the land-line from the B2K when using a Mac, the phone does not work if it is set to default to "Line", therefore requiring us to start all of our calls from the Skype keypad instead.  Everything else works fine, though.

Something else we found is that many times people will connect the B2K to their Mac, and it will be detected fine, then they will install the SkyMACMate software and that loads just fine, too, but when a call comes in, it rings the system speakers and if the person can hear them on the other end it is because the computer microphone (if there) will pick up the voice - and not the phone.  To fix this you need to go into the Skype menu, then Preferences.  Ensure that both the Audio input and output are set to "USB Audio Device" and then the system will use your phone as you expect.  Use SkyMACMate to change the volume levels for the call itself instead of using the main system volume so you don't end up blowing out your ears the next time you go to watch a movie or listen to music (or play a game) on the system.

Overall we've found that the functionality and sound quality of using the B2K with our iMac G3 running OS X 10.3 - Panther has been a good one, and we will continue to test and update as we go along.  Please feel free to send us updates if you find out any more interesting tidbits.

Yealink's USBW1D Wireless USB Skype Phone

The W1D is another Yealink product that is Mac compatible with Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) or better and the latest SkyMACMate software from Yealink.  The device is just as easy to configure on our iMac as the B2K was, but with a bit more functionality. 

With the W1D we were able to scroll through the Skype contacts and calls list with only a little less ease of use than if it was connected to a Windows PC, but we still got there.  An incoming call would show up on the handset with the Skype contact name if they were in the contacts list, and the call itself was a clear as we would like to hear.

While the phone is USB-only through Skype and not with a land-line such as with the Dual Phone or B2K, the functionality is well worth it when you just want to talk over the computer and leave the land-line alone.

Yealink USB-P5D VoIP Skype Phone

The P5D is one more Yealink product that we have that is Mac compatible with Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) or better and the latest SkypeMate software.  To configure the device we did the same thing we did with the W1D which was to simply plug it into the next available USB port on our iMac G3.  We have found that no matter which device we use so far, we can't plug it in to the extra USB jack on the keyboard because it does not supply enough power. 

The functionality is as good - if not better - than the W1D was in that scrolling around the Skype menus from the phone itself was much easier.  Also, the longer cord for the phone was a lot more comfortable.  The same restrictions apply as for the other Yealink products using SkyMACMate, but even with that we still had no troubles in our calls.  As a matter of fact, it was while using this unit that we discovered that you could be playing a game on the Mac (in this instance it was Risk II) and an incoming Skype call would come through on the phone while the game was in play.  So, we could continue our game while chatting on the phone.  The reverse, however, wasn't as easy.  You can start a phone call through Skype by using the phone menu to find your contact and send, but then the game application would minimize and the Skype application would come to the fore.  After that we could bring back the game, but that was a hassle.

Cordless DUALPhone

The Cordless DUALPhone is another unit that will be recognized by the Mac system when connected to a USB port on the system. The software is currently available for Windows-based PCs only, and there is not a Mac version available at this time. Full functionality will not be available, though some partial functionality can be found with the unit.

Grandvue G-NP720G Bluetooth Headset Combo

For the Bluetooth lovers who are concerned about whether or not the Grandvue G-NP720G will work on their Mac systems, we have been told that as long as your system is configured to recognize the USB dongle and have a bluetooth interface, it will work fine. It uses a standard Bluetooth and USB interface that is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems without extra software (in most cases.) The bluetooth headset does not depend on which operating system is running on the computer. Therefore, as long as there is a bluetooth dongle or internal bluetooth receiver to pick up its signal and send it signals in return, the unit will function properly.

Note: Standard headsets available through our site will work on any system or device with a standard audio connector.