FLOSS VOIP Client Software

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Newsgroups: gmane.linux.debian.user
Subject: Re: FLOSS VOIP Client Software
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008

> I am trying to look for a decent FLOSS VOIP software that allows me to
> communicate to Windows/Mac users. Skype is out of the question since it
> does not even support Debian PPC (which I have).
>
> I have heard of Ekiga. How is that?

I too want to find a definite solution for this. I can just let you know my experiences with some software I tried to talk with my girlfriend, who uses Vista:

Ekiga. It certainly looks a nice option, but last time we tried (just over 3 months ago) the windows version wasn't very solid and we had to drop it. More over, it has loads of Gnome dependencies, which may, or may not, be a problem for you.
OpenWengo. Nice but trickier (just slightier) to get up and running, if I remember correctly, and the sound quality WE got wasn't as good as, say, Skype.
Kopete. Running this on my Debian machine it was straithforward to talk (and video conference too) with her using MSN. For this it uses some reverse engineered library so it still is FLOSS. The same about the libraries applies here, but for KDE. Our choice so far.

When we tried this she was abroad using a hall Uni network, and due to a lack of planning I couldn't put my hands on her computer before she was already there, so we were constrained to try the easiest solutions we could think of. With more time and full control of you and your friends' networks I guess you can obtain better results and even try other ones, like Linphone.

> Does that work with Windows/Mac users using Skype clients?

You can't talk with Skype users using anything but Skype. Kopete has an addon to do this, but it's just a workaround that launches a Skype instance and puts Kopete on top of it; I haven't even bothered:

http://extragear.kde.org/apps/kopete%20skype/

A good while ago somebody claimed to have reverse engineered Skype protocol, but I heard nothing afterwards. If you find a good solution do let me know!

JoseC Rodriguez @gmail.com

FLOSS VOIP Client Software

> I have heard of Ekiga. How is that? Does that work with Windows/Mac users
> using Skype clients?

There are several in Debian. Butthe two I would recommend are ekiga and twinkle.

Tzafrir Cohen @cohens.org.il

FLOSS VOIP Client Software

The easiest option assuming you have some control over your network and can open some ports is to use Ekiga at your end and NetMeeting at the other, on most windows PCs you can start NetMeeting by "start" "run" and then type "conf" you'll be using the old VOIP protocol H323 and not SIP but I used it for years and it's bloody good, only you will be able to receive the calls and you'll want to set up dyndns or similar so the other end has a consistent name to dial.

Failing that the only windows SIP clients that support H.261 [0] are Ekiga and Windows Messenger 5.1 (Messenger is not MSN) config tutorial here http://wiki.ekiga.org/index.php/Connecting_Windows_Messenger_5.1_to_ekiga.net Also see http://wiki.ekiga.org/index.php/Which_programs_work_with_Ekiga_%3F#Windows

Good luck, I'm really looking forward to Ekiga 3

[0] at present Ekiga 2.0.11 (current) doesn't support the newer H.263 video compression codec that most modern SIP clients use, however Ekiga 3 will http://wiki.ekiga.org/index.php/Roadmap_to_3.00

Bob @homeurl.co.uk

FLOSS VOIP Client Software

You don't need the same client on Windows and Linux. I would use SIP phones since I have found them the most reliable and the most widespread. That will change as IAX becomes the norm (I think).

There are two ways that I communicate with my Windows/Mac friends. Either is OK.

1) Both of you establish and account on Free World Dialup: http://www.freeworlddialup.com/

On Linux, use Ekiga. Ekiga will connect to multiple accounts, so you can have your Ekiga account and your FWD account active at the same time.

On Windows/Mac, use the Sjphone: http://www.sjlabs.com/ It is a very good sip-phone. The one for Linux is good too, but it is not free software and it does not connect simultaneously to multiple accounts.

2) Both of you establish an account on Gizmo:http://www.gizmoproject.com/

The Gizmo client for Windows is excellent. You still can use Ekiga on your Linux box, and I recommend that you do so. I speak to my daughter frequently with this Gizmo-Ekiga combination and the sound is excellent.

It is not necessary to use the Gizmo client to connect to the Gizmo network. Your friends can use the SJphone if they prefer. You can use Ekiga.

There are any number of SIP based systems out there that you can subscribe to. The two I mention are just ones that I know well.

It is not strictly necessary for both of you to be on the same "network", but it is convenient. Most networks have "peering" arrangements that allow you to connect easily to other networks. See also SipBroker: http://www.sipbroker.com/sipbroker/action/login

Alan Typhoon @aanet.com.au

FLOSS VOIP Client Software

> On Linux, use Ekiga. Ekiga will connect to multiple accounts, so you
> can have your Ekiga account and your FWD account active at the same
> time.

There are plenty of SIP service providers out there. If you want to safely experiment, use only those that don't require your credit card to register for starters. You won't be able to send calls out to normal phones, but you'll get the feeling.

> 2) Both of you establish an account on
> Gizmo:http://www.gizmoproject.com/[]

They are also a nice SIP provider as-is: http://sipphone.com/ . e.g: to get free 1-800 calls to the US.

Tzafrir Cohen @cohens.org.il

FLOSS VOIP Client Software

> There are plenty of SIP service providers out there. If you want to
> safely experiment, use only those that don't require your credit card . . .

Agree entirely - both FWD and Gizmo are free as in beer. Gizmo does have a "Call out" service that lets you connect to the regular telephone network. That part, of course, costs money.

<SNIP>

> They are also a nice SIP provider as-is: http://sipphone.com/[] . e.g:
> to get free 1-800 calls to the US.

sipphone.com and Gizmo are the same bunch. They seem to encourage connection through Gizmo these days for some reason. In any case, the Gizmo client is good for Windows and Mac users. There is also a Linux one, but I have always preferred to connect through Ekiga.

Alan Typhoon @aanet.com.au