Same situation here. But I'm too lazy to configure all my software to use a different sound card, so this is what I put in my .asoundrc:
This works with apulse perfectly.

Wrong. Skype requires 32bit binaries, so you must compile apulse as a 32bit package using `-m32` option (if you're compiling manually) or `COMPAT32=yes` (if you're building an SBo pakage).

Even if your default sound card doesn't produce any sound for whatever reason, using apulse should still make Skype show "PulseAudio server (local)" in sound options. If it's showing "Virtual device", then apulse doesn't work, because, as I stated above, you're most likely using 64bit binaries with 32bit Skype.

Thanks, I'm using skype-poll-fix and it works well :)

for some reason it won't preload on my multilib system *shrugs*

Skype is 32-bit, so apulse and skype-poll-fix need to be compiled for 32-bit. Check:

This is how I compile it, on my custom multi-lib system:

Notice that I set up the PATH, to use my 32-bit executables in preference, so that it will use e.g. the 32-bit "ld" command.

I did. I compiled it on a 32 bit system and copied the lib over. Result when running it on a mutlilib system:

anyway, it's no biggie, life goes on without skype-poll-fix

You're right, I see that message also - but it's a false alarm.

skype-poll-fix is definitely taking effect, I see it in "top" - 2.3% CPU usage without, and 0.3% with.

It's because apulse is a script, calling /bin/sh, which is 64-bit :)

The solution is to remove the additional call of /bin/sh, and just run the 32-bit skype, e.g.:

Sorry not to answer sooner, I missed your post.
I indeed followed similar steps to the ones you gave and it does work.
But I also experience failures as an earlier poster seemed to report : if I make a call just after starting Skype with apulse, it works OK. But if I minimize Skype, do other stuff for a while (possibly using sound like watching a movie) then Skype seems to fail somehow. I can still open the GUI, check the menus, open the options and browse my contacts. But if I try to make a call, it basically hangs, I have to kill it with -9. I cannot receive any call either, they're not even detected.
I guess I should probably try the Slackbuilt with included minimal pulseaudio but I prefered this approach. Or try something like Linphone.

EDIT : I get the following message on the console after watching a film :

And after that, apulse / Skype doesn't seem to recover.

OK, I think I found the solution.
Instead of running Skype like this :

I use this :

since in Slackware, a dmix plugin is configured by default on your default card.
Now Skype can play sound while a Flash video is running in Firefox, so I guess I should not have any more issue (cross fingers).

I use Slackware 64 bits, after installing the 32 bits libraries skype appearance changes and looses color.
Can anyone confirm this?

After upgrading to Slackware 14.1, "apulse skype" produces sound but I can't get the mike to work.

Install pavucontrol

Didier, pulseaudio might be a runtime dependency for this program... No ?

You're right, that's stated on the README... That's what happens when I post just before going to bed: psionl0 wrote apulse and I read pulsaudio. OTOH maybe apulse could fake pulseaudio as a dependency as well? And/or it could be a compile time, not a run-time dependency?[1]

[1] I can find excuses if I really need to :D

This isn't going to work if PsionIO is running Skype using apulse to avoid pulse-audio.

It is likely that alsa doesn't look at the correct hardware for the microphone. This can be fixed in the way rvdboom did above or by setting up /etc/asound.conf. The config file that works for me with a logitech webcam is below, with the correct channels found using "aplay -l"

This isn't perfect as Skype hangs every now and then for me, but I haven't had time to test the suggestion by rvdboom yet.

An ALSA config which uses dmix (and dsnoop) would be better, for sharing the sound with multiple apps ;)