John, I stand corrected. Debian aptitude reports: Package: skype New: yes State: installed Automatically installed: no Version: 2.1.0.81-1 Priority: extra Section: non-free/net Maintainer: Skype Technologies <i...@skype.net>
So it is open but not free. However, there have been alternatives that are both free and open: QuteCom (previously Wengophone), Gizmo (belongs to Google; was Gaim), Jabin (?), Ekiga, java-based Pidgin Communicator (Pidgin-Pidgin), jitsi (previously was SIP Communicator) and Twinkle. This is not a complete list (http://alternativeto.net/software/sip-communicator/?platform=linux) Pidgin and jitsi apparently have more features than Skype, and at least jitsi has file transfer and encryption. It is much under development, but apparently is stable enough. For a compiled debian version: http://download.sip-communicator.org/nightly/debian/. It is even heavier on resources than Skype. It relies on 3rd party IM networks and protocol, which MS might decide to lock out. It can't do phone calls without a paid gateway or SMS messaging like Skype. Of course, the disadvantage is that the person with whom you wish to communicate must also have the same software installed. I don't know if Skype and one of these alternatives can be installed simultaneously, but I saw no warnings about doing that. Haines _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
