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Skype VoIP Software Released For Linux
pmf writes "Skype Technologies has just released a free beta version of their software for Linux. Skype is well known P2P VoIP technology that, according to them: '...is addressing all the problems of legacy VoIP solutions: bad sound quality, difficult to set up and configure, and the need for expensive, centralized infrastructure.'"
Skype is hype...
* Skype is proprietary.
* Skype is using a proprietary protocol that no VoIP carriers/providers will be using.
* Skype has better sound quality? Let me laugh, it just happens that Skype is only able to do audio, so all your upload can be devoted to audio.
OK, Skype is a nice toy for Windows users. For Linux users, there is GnomeMeeting (http://www.gnomemeeting.org) and Linphone.
Considering Skype has used QT for their product...
Always expect spyware. The question is whether we'll be pleasantly surprised.
Not more than you need, just more than you want
If the parent poster is accurate (which I have no idea about), then why is this on slashdot? Just because it's for linux doesn't make it good.
Sounds like this product is only beer-free.
I can count to 1023 on my hands. Ask me about #132.
Now tell us, why exactly should the Linux version sound any different or even better than the Windows version if they're expected to be compatible?
Is it not allowed to make money off p2p ?
It's perfectly fine to make money off of p2p, no one said anything to the contrary.
They have a business plan, in about 10 days they will release a new version where you can call from Skype to a regular phone at competitive prizes. You need to buy a headset from one of their partners. That's a nice service to offer, and could be implemented without breaking the spirit of free-software, but it worries me that they might push advertisement for this service so hard on the free version that it will be not worth using.
Why so many critical posts, there is not any spyware in Skype, at least not yet. I think it's great that there is a native Linux version, and not all programs for Linux have to be GPL. We need popular programs for the Linux desktop, and this is one of them.
On one hand I agree, commercial software for Linux should be accepted and welcomed. It helps promote the operating system and increases linux's overall value to corporate and home customers alike. In this particular case, I worry, simply because the company in question has a bad history of pushing spyware/malware/adware in the past.
The programmers have said that one version of Skype will remain free for ever, but some more advanced features will cost money.
I like this business model with the exception of the fears I've previously mentioned. I have no intentions of using software that are adware/malware/spyware supported, and I have no intentions, but that's just me. I do have a problem with companies calling this free, they should call it ad-supported, because it is not free, you can only have it if you give something in return... (advertisement/cpu cycles/etc).
Jamon
I can count to 1023 on my hands. Ask me about #132.
Linux users have no reason to ever expect spyware. Hopefully this never changes.
This space for rent. Call 1-800-STEAK4U
If they make skype interoperability plugin/module for Asterisk then I might reconsider the usability of this product.
First off, we know you like *nix, but there is not "root" user in windows. Sorry to be surley, but how would you feel if some MCSE told you that you need to be "Administrator" to install a program globally in linux? Just because we don't liked Windows doesn't mean be have to be fucktards.
Thirdly, there is a problem, as i understand it, in the win32 message passing system. This design flaw allows a message to be sent to any running process without it's source being checked. This basically negates any kind of user-level security at the message-passing level. So, yes, any program could theoretically run without any kind of access control on windows. The grandparent's comment that windows is just like Unix if you set up user's and permissions correctly is wrong.
source: here Note also that i just woke up, and i could have made a few errors. In anycase, the site i linked to explains it much better than i.
3. Permission to utilize. In order to receive the benefits provided by the Skype Software, you hereby grant permission for the Skype Software to utilize the processor and bandwidth of your computer for the limited purpose of facilitating the communication between other Skype Software users. You understand that the Skype Software will protect the privacy and integrity of your computer resources and communication and ensure the unobtrusive utilization of your computer resources to the greatest extent possible.
So it does indeed look like spyware.
Vonage actually believes in standards.
Why the hell should we not be expecting spyware? Spyware is indeed extremely improbable in open source software, but here's a great example - Skype - of an application that is not open sourced. Linux does not inherently make spyware impossible - it's just that most software that is used with Linux is open-source, and therefore easily freed of spyware.
Skype could indeed contain spyware. We can and will probably use the flexibility of various firewalling and sniffing utilities to block it.
If it weren't for fog, the world would run at a really crappy framerate.
According to their FAQ - yes. But since they use closed protocol, it is not worth a penny. They can be calling XOR masking an 'unrivaled privacy' for all I know.
They can't claim security unless it's verifiable, and it cannot be verifiable unless it's open. And even if it's open, the implementation can be flawed either accidently or intentionally (!).
So the best bet for an average paranoid is to consider calls going in plaintext unless proved otherwise.
3.243F6A8885A308D313
This is from the same programmers who wrote Kazaa, not the same business that now owns it. There's a big difference. As far as I have been able to tell Skype does not install any spyware (but of course that's not saying they won't).
I tried Skype a while back, but it didnt work out for me as it requires a computer on both ends. If they make a low power hardware device I can see Skype having a future, but I dont like leaving my computer on 24hrs a day. However, in the process I found a good VOIP solution that works great for me. I tried several VOIP providers, Packet8, Vonage and SIPPhone to cut down on my international long distance calling as I spend a lot of money calling my gf in Sri Lanka. My phone bill was over $300 using calling cards from pinzoo.com (at 22c per min), which I was pretty happy with, compared what I would have had to pay with MCI or AT&T (over $1 per min). Still this is a lot of money. So, I had to look into VOIP. First I bought a pair of Sip adapters from SipHone. My total was around $150 including all shipping costs. My plan was to get her ADSL for $20 a month and send a phone to her and have one over here for me. Sent it to her, but had trouble getting ADSL, so had to leave it for a while. Then I found Packet8 and Vonage, which also allows calls to traditional phones. Ordered Vonage from RadioShack for around $100, and activated it on line as they offered a better deal at the time when ordered thru RadioShack (1 month trial period as opposed to 2 weeks). Also ordered Packet8 using promotion code "bestdeal" for a total of aroudn $36 including equipment and activation. For my next5 trip to Sri Lanka, I took all these items with me, set up ADSL and was able to called here (USA) for free! Tried Vonage... had to mess aroudn with fire wall settings but finally got it working. Packet8 was a very install, just plug it in and it worked. Tried all three and Vonage and packet8 both seemed descent voice quality, but SipPhone had a bit of a cracking sound. Having all these working, now I had to make decision to which ones to keep after coming back. Packet8 had a 1 month trial, and by purchasing Vonage thru RadioShack, Vonage offered the same. Unfortunately, I bought SIPPhone a while ago, so no return on that was possible. After coming back, even before I could make the first call, SIPPhone died on me, and I didnt want to buy anew one for another $75... so left it alone. Vonage offerred the US and Canada unlimited service for $35 while Packet8 was only $20 for the same plan, so my decision was easy. Vonage also has a $15 plan, but only 500 minutes... adding $5 more gives me unlimited calling with Packet8. So, I returned Vonage and kept the Packet8 phone. Making this decision even more attractive was the fact that you can buy a Packet8 phone for a one time fee of $75 and call between Packet8 phones as long as you want for free. So, I ordered another Packet8 phone and sent it to my gf. She was able to set it up on her own, since it was only a mater of plugging it in. Infact Packet8 phone worked so well, that I disconnected my regular phone altogether. I wasnt too concerned about 911 calling since I have a cell phone and my roomate has a regular land line. Now only time I have to pay for international calls are when I call a regular international phone. I call my relatives and friends all over the US and my gf's Packet8 phone in Sri Lanka for free. Now my phone bill has dropped over $200 and we talk a lot more for free. Only time I have to pay long distance is when I call my gf's mobile phone. This is a great way for anybody whos been screwed by the phone company to lower the phone bill. Thanks for whoever invented VOIP and thanks for the Packet8 phone!
If any one is interested, I would highly recommend Packet8, which you can order from www.packet8.net Be careful though, not to disconnect your regular phone altogether if you have kids and in need of alling 911. Having a VOIP phone means you might be out of service in case of power failure or internet disruptions. One of my friends got the basic phone service from SBC for aroudn $10 and switched to Packet8 to make his outgoing calls.