[linux-audio-user] fighting skype ...

[Eric Dantan Rzewnicki]

On Fri, Mar 18, 2005 at 04:08:55PM -0500, Rob wrote:
> On Friday 18 March 2005 15:44, Eric Dantan Rzewnicki wrote:
> > I know very little about skype and don't have much time or personal
> > interest in learning about it. But, it's making inroads. I want to
> > understand what it does and what free software alternatives are
> > available. Is it possible for free software alternatives to inter
> > operate with the skype world?
> 
> Free software VOIP typically takes the form of SIP, or Session 
> Initiation Protocol, which is as close to a standard for end users as 
> VOIP really has.  Skype doesn't have any SIP gateways as far as I 
> know, though they're supposed to offer something called "SkypeIn" 
> this summer to do that.  Personally, I'd rather just avoid them 
> altogether, as it seems what they've brought to the mix is primarily 
> marketing.

That is my impression as well. But, how to convince management that the
current most popular solution is not the best thing for the organization
to roll out just because it's what has made the first big splash in the
general population ....

> I would say Linphone is the most widely used free SIP client software, 
> at least under Linux.  Linspire seems to be throwing some money at 
> PhoneGaim, though, so maybe it'll be grandmother-friendly before 
> Linphone.

I'm afraid of management getting caught up in hype, offering a service
to users and down the road realizing that they are locked into a
proprietary protocol. I just did some googling and realize my fears are
founded. The skype protocol is entirely closed as far as I can tell.

I'm aware of SIP and h.323. We just had a DC linux user's meeting here
on Wednesday night about asterisk and how VoIP interfaces to the PSTN.

Basically what is wanted is a way for people (most of whom probably
don't run linux or care at all about Free Software) who aren't able to
get through during our call-in shows to leave messages without paying
the toll free (for the caller) charges of using the PSTN. Skype offers a
viable option for that, _now_. While I can't help feeling that it is a
slippery slope that will come back to bite the organization in the
future ... I also cannot offer a Free alternative with the same ease of
use and practically non-existant barrier to entry for the potential
callers.

/me scratches head and stares into the screen ....
-- 
Eric Dantan Rzewnicki  |  Systems Administrator
Technical Operations Division  |  Radio Free Asia
2025 M Street, NW  |  Washington, DC 20036  |  202-530-4900
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION
This e-mail message is intended only for the use of the addressee and
may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any 
unauthorized dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly 
prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please contact
network at rfa.org.