Posted by
ryuzaki0
on from the open-is-better-right dept.
slackah writes "OpenWengo an open source alternative to skype. It includes features such as sip calls, SMS, video conference, and automatic NAT configuration. It's still under heavy development, but it looks very promising."
Also has a singularly unhelpful website, but that may be partially down to the/. effect meaning I can't reach the source code. Ah well, maybe it'll be good when it's done!:)
Free as in... Windows?
by
Masque
·
· Score: 5, Informative
This is an "alternative to Skype" in the same way that Google Talk is - it's an alternative if you happen to be running Windows 2000/XP. I have too much to do during the day to mess with running Windows, so it looks like I'm sticking with Skype or GizmoProject. No affiliation with either, aside from liking the fact that they work on more than one OS.
Re:Hopefully not GPL'd
by
j.leidner
·
· Score: 3, Informative
1. Code compile with gcc does NOT automatically fall under the GPL (read up on the differences between GPL and LGPL).
2. You don't have to use GCC to compile your project. (There are also commmercial compilers for C++, for example Intel has one.). Your Windows re-write of the project seems like a big waste just because your lawyers don't have a clue.
3. You don't have to open-source ALL your code, only the changes to the core Linux operating system. Surely you could have split your system into an application layer and an OS layer, only opening up the latter (probably with very limited use to your competitor compared to the former).
4. If your project management was unaware of the licensing situation before embarking on a project, that doesn't sound good, uh-oh. You had better try to silently move to work a more competent project leader.
Better luck next time!
Re:The real power of Skype
by
sulimma
·
· Score: 3, Informative
If it supports SIP calls it supports PC-to-POTS and POTS-to-PC.
You can pay external SIP-gateways for PC-to-POTS. You can POTS-to-PC for free.
The beauty of it is that you can rent phone numbers in as many area codes or countries as you like and route them to your computer.
Re:Open source alternative added value
by
Lumpy
·
· Score: 5, Informative
true. if you want that just use asterisk and a SIP phone.
myself and a few friends all have asterisk systems and broadvoice. if I want to call california my asterisk system sees that and routes the call to his asterisk system and then out his broadvoice connection. works great take no effort and does not mess up his use of his broadvoice line as broadvoice allows 4 voice channels to be open on one line. he can have 2 calls going on while I use one channel.
if you are a techie type of person screwing around with these desktop app based systems is a waste of time. use real SIP hardware and get in on the real fun.
nothing like your own conference bridge to have 12 frinds all yakking away in.
-- Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Phone Gaim?
by
johnnyproton
·
· Score: 5, Informative
I know this was made by the guys at Lindows but it seems like such a great project. Wonder why the Gaim developers don't talk about it on their own home page?
It seems this would be a great option for GNOME in general. I'd love to have this functionality tied into my Evolution Data Server instead of creating yet another buddy list, etc.
AFAIK, sip is being coded and/or already added.. it has voice, video, text chat... open source and in pretty good shape compared to the pre-alpha software in the story..
Skype was soaring to popularity long before they introduced their "SkypeOut" functionality. Skype's real innovation was their NAT hole punching which meant that you didn't have to worry about fiddling with your firewall to get it to work, a major shortcoming of other VOIP apps.
Slashdot Mirror
Development Status: Pre-Alpha
/. effect meaning I can't reach the source code. Ah well, maybe it'll be good when it's done! :)
Also has a singularly unhelpful website, but that may be partially down to the
Game dev and music blog
here's the Coral cache
This is an "alternative to Skype" in the same way that Google Talk is - it's an alternative if you happen to be running Windows 2000/XP. I have too much to do during the day to mess with running Windows, so it looks like I'm sticking with Skype or GizmoProject. No affiliation with either, aside from liking the fact that they work on more than one OS.
2. You don't have to use GCC to compile your project. (There are also commmercial compilers for C++, for example Intel has one.). Your Windows re-write of the project seems like a big waste just because your lawyers don't have a clue.
3. You don't have to open-source ALL your code, only the changes to the core Linux operating system. Surely you could have split your system into an application layer and an OS layer, only opening up the latter (probably with very limited use to your competitor compared to the former).
4. If your project management was unaware of the licensing situation before embarking on a project, that doesn't sound good, uh-oh. You had better try to silently move to work a more competent project leader.
Better luck next time!
If it supports SIP calls it supports PC-to-POTS and POTS-to-PC.
You can pay external SIP-gateways for PC-to-POTS. You can POTS-to-PC for free.
The beauty of it is that you can rent phone numbers in as many area codes or countries as you like and route them to your computer.
true. if you want that just use asterisk and a SIP phone.
myself and a few friends all have asterisk systems and broadvoice. if I want to call california my asterisk system sees that and routes the call to his asterisk system and then out his broadvoice connection. works great take no effort and does not mess up his use of his broadvoice line as broadvoice allows 4 voice channels to be open on one line. he can have 2 calls going on while I use one channel.
if you are a techie type of person screwing around with these desktop app based systems is a waste of time. use real SIP hardware and get in on the real fun.
nothing like your own conference bridge to have 12 frinds all yakking away in.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I know this was made by the guys at Lindows but it seems like such a great project. Wonder why the Gaim developers don't talk about it on their own home page?
http://www.phonegaim.com/
It seems this would be a great option for GNOME in general. I'd love to have this functionality tied into my Evolution Data Server instead of creating yet another buddy list, etc.
AFAIK, sip is being coded and/or already added.. it has voice, video, text chat... open source and in pretty good shape compared to the pre-alpha software in the story..
http://www.gnomemeeting.org/
Skype was soaring to popularity long before they introduced their "SkypeOut" functionality. Skype's real innovation was their NAT hole punching which meant that you didn't have to worry about fiddling with your firewall to get it to work, a major shortcoming of other VOIP apps.