Group: Skype Replacement
From LibrePlanet
Skype Replacement is an item on the FSF's High Priority Projects list.
Contents
Protocol, not client
We need to make the discussion about protocols, not clients, (think how people say "send me an email" rather than "send me a Hotmail").
The primary functionality of Skype we aim to replace is real-time:
- voice calls
- video calls
- text chat
Anywhere over the internet (or beyond), with as many people per conversation, logging, etc. whatever other features (clarify this section as necessary).
The free protocols currently available to do this are.
| Voice | Video | Text | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIP | Yes | Yes? | Yes | sessions? |
| XMPP/Jingle | Yes | Yes | Yes? | presence? |
| Mumble | Yes | Yes? | Yes? |
Central Registry?
Apart from technical problems with free Skype replacements, there is a "network effect" problem preventing free protocols (and clients) becoming popular. This might be solved by ...?
Free clients
Lists exist already:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SIP_software
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_(protocol)
- http://xmpp.org/xmpp-software/clients/
Do we need more info? If so it can go here.
| SIP? | XMPP? | Jingle? | Active development? | Platforms | License | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jitsi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes? | Java | LGPL | |
| Ekiga | Yes | No? | No? | No? | GNU, Windows XP | ? | |
| Empathy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No? | GNU | GPL | GNOME default |
| Psi | |||||||
| Yate | |||||||
| Mumble | |||||||
| Pidgin | |||||||
| Twinkle |
Personal experiences
Ekiga
- I have used Ekiga in the past and had good luck with it, but only with other Ekiga users on GNU/Linux -- Mattl 15:47, 14 May 2012 (EDT)
Jitsi
- Successfully used to three-way audio-video chat with a pair of Mac users. H.264 only, but VP8 support soon! -- Mattl 15:47, 14 May 2012 (EDT)
