Looking for a good Skype alternative

[suse_tpx60s]

I am looking for a good alternative to Skype. I would like to have video and voice calls with a family member who uses MS XP but would like to avoid Skype if possible. Does anyone know of a good client with good video and voice quality that will work on both platforms. I'd like it to use open standards so at least we can use different OS specific clients if one is not available for both platforms.

Googling hasn't yielded much and some of the results refer to really old (~2006) articles or apps.

I hope I'm not doomed to using Skype. I've resisted so long with using SIP clients for voice but am stumped now that I want to include video.

[DenverD]

suse tpx60s wrote:

> I hope I'm not doomed to using Skype. I've resisted so long with using
> SIP clients for voice but am stumped now that I want to include video.

if there is another way for MS and Linux users to video/conference i
don't know it...maybe it exists..

i use Skype and it seems harmless enough and easy as falling off a
log...if your webcam and sound works, Skype will generally work right
out of the box (hmmmm....drag the forums with a searcher i think you
will find several different ways to have problems, one i think is
having a 64 system, maybe)..

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[hendersj]

On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:36:01 +0000, suse tpx60s wrote:

> I am looking for a good alternative to Skype.

I don't know if it supports video, but you might look at Gizmo.

What's the issue with Skype? It works pretty well here...

Jim



--
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator

[suse_tpx60s]

Thanks for the suggestions. I had a brief look at Gizmo a while ago so will take a better look at it.

No real issue with Skype except I try not use companies or software that try tie you in with proprietary products - one of the main reasons I moved away from MS. I also read of some serious security issues (although that was 12-18 months ago) with Skype so wasn't too comfortable with it.

I'll research Skype a little more too.

[hendersj]

On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:26:02 +0000, suse tpx60s wrote:

> Thanks for the suggestions. I had a brief look at Gizmo a while ago so
> will take a better look at it.
>
> No real issue with Skype except I try not use companies or software that
> try tie you in with proprietary products - one of the main reasons I
> moved away from MS. I also read of some serious security issues
> (although that was 12-18 months ago) with Skype so wasn't too
> comfortable with it.
>
> I'll research Skype a little more too.

I seem to recall that Skype was looking at open sourcing their Linux code
- I think you'll find, though, that security issues may be a problem
regardless of the software in use.

Jim
--
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator

[DenverD]

suse tpx60s wrote:

> No real issue with Skype except I try not use companies or software
> that try tie you in with proprietary products - one of the main reasons
> I moved away from MS.

understand, but Skype to Skype calls, video and instant messaging is
totally free of cost...so, what is it that try to "tie you in" to?

they can tie me in to making free, world-wide, video conference calls
all they want to....gimme some more free stuff, please!


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[suse_tpx60s]

understand, but Skype to Skype calls, video and instant messaging is
totally free of cost...so, what is it that try to "tie you in" to?

they can tie me in to making free, world-wide, video conference calls
all they want to....gimme some more free stuff, please!

The way you put it, yes I agree there is no real tie in except that you can only use it to call other Skype members / users.

It would be a lot nicer if it were open and followed an open standard. I'll see if I can find any other suitable alternative, which is proving quite difficult at the moment, otherwise I'll have to concede and use Skype.

It seems they got the early mover advantage and everyone jumped on the Skype train making the uptake of SIP based (or open standard clients) clients slow on the up take.

[DenverD]

suse tpx60s wrote:
> It seems they got the early mover advantage and everyone jumped on the
> Skype train making the uptake of SIP based (or open standard clients)
> clients slow on the up take.

i think not.

the wiki says SIP was originally designed in 1996 and the current
version of the standard is dated Nov 2000..

by contrast, Skype released its first public beta in August
2003...and, it looks to me it turned out to be the "better mousetrap"
and free at that..

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DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
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CMedia 9761 AC'97 Audio

[hendersj]

On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:34:15 +0000, Jim Henderson wrote:

> I seem to recall that Skype was looking at open sourcing their Linux
> code -

Did a little reading; looks like the library and protocol won't be
opened, but the UI and APIs will be.

Jim

--
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator

[suse_tpx60s]

i think not.

the wiki says SIP was originally designed in 1996 and the current
version of the standard is dated Nov 2000..

by contrast, Skype released its first public beta in August
2003...and, it looks to me it turned out to be the "better mousetrap"
and free at that..

Perhaps, but it was Skype that was really first in marketing free voip and eventually video calling to the masses due to their effective marketing campaign. I was using voip before Skype appeared but it was clunky and not many polished sip clients existed (speaking from a MS OS user at the time. I don't know what Linux options were available at the time) and even fewer voip termination providers. Either way we have what we have.