Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-27 Thread Oleg Goldshmidt


I don't know about Skype on Linux, but Skype for Asterisk is (almost)
gone - I figured it might interest some folks here:

http://blogs.digium.com/2011/05/26/skype-for-asterisk-end-of-sale-july-26-2011/

-- 
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-16 Thread Amos Shapira
On 16 May 2011 02:02, Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.org wrote:

 On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Constantine Shulyupin
 co...@makelinux.co.il wrote:
  A new article about Linux Skype alternatives:
  Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements:
  http://ostatic.com/blog/bye-bye-skype-top-3-free-replacements

 Unfortunately, I don't see anything there that satisfies _any_ of the
 three requirements I posted earlier in this thread.


Even before that - I've tried some of these SIP-based voice programs on and
off for a few years now and they *never* just work (let alone work)
where as Skype is just a plug a play and voice clear as a whistle from the
first time I used it in ~2003.

The key issue, as far as I can tell, is that 99.999% of the networks today
are on the Internet behind NAT so you need something which can traverse both
sides and still manage to stream audio/video both ways (i.e. can punch
through NAT in both sides but does NOT depend on a central remote server to
have enough bandwidth to stream all traffic of all the calls on its network,
which is exactly the problem Skype solved).

Absolutely none of these (including the ones in the list Constantine
provided) manage to do as much as a simple echo back call to a SIP
service. You can say I don't know a thing about SIP (and I'll agree), but if
I can't set this up after spending an awful lot of time trowling support
forums and reading howto's then how do you expect your average Windows
layman to set this up?

Even more so - guys in my workplace who claim to have experience setting up
SIP and none-Skype voip exchanges still have trouble setting up simple
connections between our Sydney and San Francisco offices. You can claim that
it's their fault but my point is that SIP (which is what all these solutions
relay on) is just still too hard to use.

Skype solved a very complex problem very well and until you manage to come
up with something which looks at the VoIP issue at a completely different
way from SIP's central office way which addresses the NAT issue you are
not going to compete with them.

--Amos
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-16 Thread geoffrey mendelson


On May 16, 2011, at 1:44 PM, Amos Shapira wrote:


Even before that - I've tried some of these SIP-based voice programs  
on and off for a few years now and they *never* just work (let  
alone work) where as Skype is just a plug a play and voice clear  
as a whistle from the first time I used it in ~2003..



I've used (not on Linux, but they do exist there) X-lite, Zoiper and  
Voix (IAX only) and they work easily.


You can not connect a SIP client to another SIP client, there has to  
be something in the middle. If you have firewalls in the way, you also  
need a SIP Proxy, (aka Stunnel server). SIP uses different ports for  
setting up and controlling a session and the actual voice data, and  
most people never quite get that right. (It's not easy with 2  
firewalls, NAT, etc).


Even more so - guys in my workplace who claim to have experience  
setting up SIP and none-Skype voip exchanges still have trouble  
setting up simple connections between our Sydney and San Francisco  
offices. You can claim that it's their fault but my point is that  
SIP (which is what all these solutions relay on) is just still too  
hard to use.




That's barking up the wrong tree as it were. Asterisk systems with IAX  
trunking will do the job and can be set up easily. SIP is much more  
difficult.


You are right though, if you already have a Skype ID and a copy  
installed on your system, you could call someone in another office in  
a few seconds. You can also do voice conference, video calls and now  
(if you pay for a premium account) video conferences. All with a  
minimum of effort and almost no skill.


Geoff.

--
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-15 Thread Constantine Shulyupin
A new article about Linux Skype alternatives:
Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements:
http://ostatic.com/blog/bye-bye-skype-top-3-free-replacements


-- 
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http://www.MakeLinux.co.il/
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Device Drivers, TI DaVinci

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-15 Thread Oleg Goldshmidt
On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Constantine Shulyupin
co...@makelinux.co.il wrote:
 A new article about Linux Skype alternatives:
 Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements:
 http://ostatic.com/blog/bye-bye-skype-top-3-free-replacements

Unfortunately, I don't see anything there that satisfies _any_ of the
three requirements I posted earlier in this thread.

:-(

-- 
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-15 Thread Constantine Shulyupin
Have you checked this list: http://directory.fsf.org/category/tel/

On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 7:02 PM, Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.org wrote:
 On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Constantine Shulyupin
 co...@makelinux.co.il wrote:
 A new article about Linux Skype alternatives:
 Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements:
 http://ostatic.com/blog/bye-bye-skype-top-3-free-replacements

 Unfortunately, I don't see anything there that satisfies _any_ of the
 three requirements I posted earlier in this thread.

 :-(

 --
 Oleg Goldshmidt | o...@goldshmidt.org




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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-15 Thread sara fink
The main problem is how you can convince windows user to install one of
these programs (one that is cross platform) when they are used to skype that
works without problems . Is there any program that will work with skype ad
they won't feel it?  I know I tried to convince my brother to use ekiga
which is cross platform. And in the end, the antivirus said it has virus.



On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 11:24 PM, Constantine Shulyupin 
co...@makelinux.co.il wrote:

 Have you checked this list: http://directory.fsf.org/category/tel/

 On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 7:02 PM, Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.org
 wrote:
  On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Constantine Shulyupin
  co...@makelinux.co.il wrote:
  A new article about Linux Skype alternatives:
  Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements:
  http://ostatic.com/blog/bye-bye-skype-top-3-free-replacements
 
  Unfortunately, I don't see anything there that satisfies _any_ of the
  three requirements I posted earlier in this thread.
 
  :-(
 
  --
  Oleg Goldshmidt | o...@goldshmidt.org
 



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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-14 Thread Mordecha Behar
One day I was poking around my desktop and found that Ekiga had come
preinstalled. I fired it up and was dutifully impressed with all the new
and exciting features they promoted. (This was about 3 versions ago).
I liked that it loaded up the first time quickly and seamlessly, and walked
me through getting my very own free SIP address.
Then when I tried actually using it I discovered to my chagrin that
everybody I know uses Skype.
My account is still around somewhere, and probably still active, but I have
nothing that I can do with it.
Maybe people will migrate from Skype, but maybe not.

On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 12:17 AM, Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.orgwrote:

 Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.org writes:

  - my friends and family having an account on the service to stay in
  touch for free
  - seamless integration into Linux+Android
  - cheap (compared to any special offer I have ever received from
  long-distance providers) international calls to phones, especially
  mobile phones, from any country (OK, Europe+N.America+Israel as
  primary targets) to any other country.
 
  If anyone has suggestions, I am curious.

 Time to invest development effort into something like ekiga on
 Android? How GNOMEish is it?

 Does anyone use it? I realize that out of the 3 requirements above the
 1st is unlkely to ever be satisfied, at least until the Android part
 of the 2nd is done, but what about the 3rd one right now? Does it
 work? What are the prices like?

 Not that I am ready to drop Skype tomorrow, but what *are* the
 potential alternatives?

 --
 Oleg Goldshmidt | p...@goldshmidt.org

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-14 Thread Boris shtrasman
2011/5/14 Mordecha Behar mordecha.be...@mail.huji.ac.il

 One day I was poking around my desktop and found that Ekiga had come
 preinstalled. I fired it up and was dutifully impressed with all the new
 and exciting features they promoted. (This was about 3 versions ago).
 I liked that it loaded up the first time quickly and seamlessly, and walked
 me through getting my very own free SIP address.
 Then when I tried actually using it I discovered to my chagrin that
 everybody I know uses Skype.
 My account is still around somewhere, and probably still active, but I have
 nothing that I can do with it.
 Maybe people will migrate from Skype, but maybe not.



Actually ekiga is one of the more popular providers that have a
sipbroker.com integration.

the result you can call some free 800 (US) numbers directly from your sip
account, and any of your friends that use a provider that use sipbroker.


On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 12:17 AM, Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.orgwrote:

 Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.org writes:

  - my friends and family having an account on the service to stay in
  touch for free
  - seamless integration into Linux+Android
  - cheap (compared to any special offer I have ever received from
  long-distance providers) international calls to phones, especially
  mobile phones, from any country (OK, Europe+N.America+Israel as
  primary targets) to any other country.
 
  If anyone has suggestions, I am curious.

 Time to invest development effort into something like ekiga on
 Android? How GNOMEish is it?

 Does anyone use it? I realize that out of the 3 requirements above the
 1st is unlkely to ever be satisfied, at least until the Android part
 of the 2nd is done, but what about the 3rd one right now? Does it
 work? What are the prices like?

 Not that I am ready to drop Skype tomorrow, but what *are* the
 potential alternatives?

 --
 Oleg Goldshmidt | p...@goldshmidt.org

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-13 Thread sara fink
Yes, but the unique features are not available on linux anyhow (such

 as multi person video chatting).
 Skype is also very easy and comfortable to configure. I've been trying
 to find a good opensource replacement
 on linux for years now:(



I found a program called cutlass.
http://www.synacklabs.net/projects/cutlass/

 It is rather old but I am willing to give it a try. I will be glad if
others check it  also and report some feedback.

It requires butan a c++ crypto library.

I am also frustrated from the linux voice clients. google talk doesn't work
ok. gtalx (another gtalk client crashes during talk),


  3. Will Microsoft also drop support for Skype on non-Microsoft smartphone
 OSs
(iOS, android, etc.)?
 
 Probably, it seems that they are aiming for xbox/new windows mobile phones.


 Ely
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-13 Thread Oleg Goldshmidt
Oleg Goldshmidt p...@goldshmidt.org writes:

 - my friends and family having an account on the service to stay in
 touch for free
 - seamless integration into Linux+Android
 - cheap (compared to any special offer I have ever received from
 long-distance providers) international calls to phones, especially
 mobile phones, from any country (OK, Europe+N.America+Israel as
 primary targets) to any other country.

 If anyone has suggestions, I am curious.

Time to invest development effort into something like ekiga on
Android? How GNOMEish is it?

Does anyone use it? I realize that out of the 3 requirements above the
1st is unlkely to ever be satisfied, at least until the Android part
of the 2nd is done, but what about the 3rd one right now? Does it
work? What are the prices like?

Not that I am ready to drop Skype tomorrow, but what *are* the
potential alternatives?

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | p...@goldshmidt.org

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Nadav Har'El
On Wed, May 11, 2011, Amos Shapira wrote about MS buys Skype - will it support 
Linux:
 In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
 http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html
 
 Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?

I am not aware of *any* Microsoft product that is officially supported on
Linux. So I don't think there's any chance that a Linux version of Skype
will continue to exist.

That being said, three questions remain to be answered:

1. How hard is it to create a free front-end to the Skype servers? For
   example, ICQ never had (as far as I know) a Linux version, but I've been
   using it for years through free clients like (today) Pidgin.

2. With all the world moving to VOIP and video chats, is Skype still unique?
   I know that Google Voice is available (but not in Israel...), and probably
   others (I didn't look too hard).

3. Will Microsoft also drop support for Skype on non-Microsoft smartphone OSs
   (iOS, android, etc.)?

-- 
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n...@math.technion.ac.il |-
Phone +972-523-790466, ICQ 13349191 |Don't accept your dog's admiration as
http://nadav.harel.org.il   |conclusive evidence that you're wonderful

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Orr Dunkelman
On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Nadav Har'El n...@math.technion.ac.il wrote:

 I am not aware of *any* Microsoft product that is officially supported on
 Linux. So I don't think there's any chance that a Linux version of Skype
 will continue to exist.

While this is the case, MS can only stop developing new versions for Linux.

If they will eliminate the current clients, they will be shooting
themselves in the leg:

1. skype in/out is a revenue source. Even Linux users pay ;) The same
goes obviously for non-MS platforms, like for smartphones, iPod
touches, etc. etc.

2. less skype users - less reasons to stick to skype, and more reasons
to look for something new. Works for other non-MS platforms.

3. regulation - if MS go after the Linux version, they will probably
face regulatory investigations all around the world. As rich as MS is,
a billion or two in fines in several countries, may change the
purchase to a disaster (think of the stockholders! why nobody think of
the stockholders?!?

Cheers,

-- 
Orr Dunkelman,
orr.dunkel...@gmail.com

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Elazar Leibovich
On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Nadav Har'El n...@math.technion.ac.ilwrote:


 3. Will Microsoft also drop support for Skype on non-Microsoft smartphone
 OSs
   (iOS, android, etc.)?


Microsoft is actively developing software for Android and iPhone devices, so
I guess the answer is Yes.
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Ely Levy
On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Nadav Har'El n...@math.technion.ac.il wrote:
 On Wed, May 11, 2011, Amos Shapira wrote about MS buys Skype - will it 
 support Linux:
 In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
 http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html

 Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?

 I am not aware of *any* Microsoft product that is officially supported on
 Linux. So I don't think there's any chance that a Linux version of Skype
 will continue to exist.

 That being said, three questions remain to be answered:

 1. How hard is it to create a free front-end to the Skype servers? For
   example, ICQ never had (as far as I know) a Linux version, but I've been
   using it for years through free clients like (today) Pidgin.

very hard, it's encrypted on development protocol.

 2. With all the world moving to VOIP and video chats, is Skype still unique?
   I know that Google Voice is available (but not in Israel...), and probably
   others (I didn't look too hard).

Yes, but the unique features are not available on linux anyhow (such
as multi person video chatting).
Skype is also very easy and comfortable to configure. I've been trying
to find a good opensource replacement
on linux for years now:(

 3. Will Microsoft also drop support for Skype on non-Microsoft smartphone OSs
   (iOS, android, etc.)?

Probably, it seems that they are aiming for xbox/new windows mobile phones.


Ely
 --
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 n...@math.technion.ac.il             
 |-
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 http://nadav.harel.org.il           |conclusive evidence that you're wonderful

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Baruch Siach
Hi Nadav,

On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 10:10:28AM +0300, Nadav Har'El wrote:
 On Wed, May 11, 2011, Amos Shapira wrote about MS buys Skype - will it 
 support Linux:
  In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
  http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html
  
  Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?
 
 I am not aware of *any* Microsoft product that is officially supported on
 Linux.

Microsoft do support Linux on their Hyper-V product.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/hyperv-supported-guest-os.aspx

I know, technically it is not running _on_ Linux, but still. See also 
drivers/staging/hv in your local kernel sources tree.

baruch

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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread geoffrey mendelson


On May 11, 2011, at 10:10 AM, Nadav Har'El wrote:


I am not aware of *any* Microsoft product that is officially  
supported on
Linux. So I don't think there's any chance that a Linux version of  
Skype

will continue to exist.


I don't agree. For two reasons. My experience with the Mac Version of  
Skype has been that it is far less suported than the Windows version.  
I have not used the Linux version but I can't imagine it's support  
being better than the Mac.


Most of their support is go ask on the forums anyway.

Since Skype's support is so little on non Windows systems, it makes  
sense for Microsoft to continue it. Note that for many years the  
largest software developer for the Mac was Microsoft. They still sell  
Mac products (e.g. Office).


This of course assumes that Skype continues to exist as a product. It  
may just become part of Windows and all stand alone versions will go  
away. :-(





That being said, three questions remain to be answered:

1. How hard is it to create a free front-end to the Skype servers? For
  example, ICQ never had (as far as I know) a Linux version, but  
I've been

  using it for years through free clients like (today) Pidgin.


Skype currently offers SIP access, but it is not cheap, From what I  
remember it is $5 a line per month with no subscriptions for  
outgoing calls. You also pay for DIDs (incoming numbers).


2. With all the world moving to VOIP and video chats, is Skype still  
unique?


Yes. It's still the only cross platform and Windows, VoiP/Video  
Confernencing/text chat that can be used by anyone. There are others,  
but none offer all of it, are free, and are simple to set up and use.


SIP still requires an exchange to connect through, and with the demise  
of Free World Dialup , there are only a few left and they are not well  
known.



  I know that Google Voice is available (but not in Israel...), and  
probably

  others (I didn't look too hard).



Google voice can be accessed in Israel. You need an incoming US DID  
(which you can get for free) and a US IP address to register. Once you  
are registered and your DID forwards calls to your Israeli number or  
your device, you can use it. It's several layers of VoIP and routing,  
it may work for you or not.


It's a question of price. There are lots of free/cheap VoIP providers.  
They range from no support to good support, but none of them have  
people who will set up your hardware (or provide it), come to your  
home and fix things, etc.


There are also companies that do provide the hardware, have real  
people available for support, etc, but they are not free or even cheap.


At least Skype did not astroturf (pay people to write friendly  
postings to mailing lists). You can tell because although they all are  
slightly different due to different people (often a member of the  
list)  writing them, they all make the same points, follow the same  
order, and basicly say the same things in the same way.



3. Will Microsoft also drop support for Skype on non-Microsoft  
smartphone OSs

  (iOS, android, etc.)?



iOS has lots of alternatives, more importantly will Apple offer an  
iChat and Facetime client for Windows?


Geoff.

--
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Occam's Razor does not apply to electronics. If something won't turn  
on, it's

not likely to be the power switch.











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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Ori Idan


 3. regulation - if MS go after the Linux version, they will probably
 face regulatory investigations all around the world. As rich as MS is,
 a billion or two in fines in several countries, may change the
 purchase to a disaster (think of the stockholders! why nobody think of
 the stockholders?!?

 What problems do you see regarding regulations?

-- 
Ori Idan
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-11 Thread Oleg Goldshmidt
2011/5/11 Amos Shapira amos.shap...@gmail.com:
 In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
 http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html

 Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?

 I guess they aren't daft enough to just drop it but would they shuffle their
 feet even more when working on none-Windows platforms (as if they aren't far
 enough behind already)?

I usually avoid speculating on what might happen because someone makes
this or that business decision. I realize that my information on
reasons/underlyings/etc. is limited.

However, I am a Skype user - a paying one - on Linux and since
recently on Android, so I got very interested over the last couple of
days when first the rumours started and then the official announcement
went out. So I'll offer a couple of thoughts.

Skype for me is a very useful tool to be in touch with family and
friends when we are in different countries. I have a Skype-out account
and I use it to call friends abroad or to call Israel when I travel. I
may start looking for alternatives, but so far nothing comes to mind
when I consider the requirements:

- my friends and family having an account on the service to stay in
touch for free
- seamless integration into Linux+Android
- cheap (compared to any special offer I have ever received from
long-distance providers) international calls to phones, especially
mobile phones, from any country (OK, Europe+N.America+Israel as
primary targets) to any other country.

If anyone has suggestions, I am curious.

Linux Skype versions are far behind than Windows even today, but since
I don't use video or anything fancy, just regular voice and chat,
that's OK as long as it works. I don't much care if the latest bells
and whistles get to my platforms later or not at all.

If memory serves, the only product MS have ever seriously supported on
another platform is Office on Mac (and MS were major stakeholders of
Apple at thwe time, weren't they?), so the possibility that they'll
drop Skype development/support is a concern. Especially since Skype
cannot be forked. Having said that, I suspect that rumours of Skype's
imminent death have been a bit exaggerated. I paid attention that
Ballmer specifically said they would continue support, and that Skype
is going to remain, at least initially, a separate business with a
separate road map. This is, mind you, a money-losing company with
something like 320 employees. I read it as an attempt to protect Skype
from being swallowed by some MS division with its own objectives and
priorities. This may change in the future but I doubt we are at much
risk in the short term.

I doubt MS will discontinue Android/iOS support quickly - that user
base, as opposed to Linux desktop user base, is of primary importance.
It is also important from the following point of view: I am sure they
have Skype on Windows phones in mind (I don't think it is there at
present), and this may stir up trouble with telcos. Having all the
Android and iOS mass on their side may be important in that fight.

If you don't want to pay a single penny to MS for - respected -
ideological reasons that's a consideration, of course.

I suspect that one major reason to own Skype is advertising potential
of the user base, in whatever shape of form it may come (pay a few
bucks to get rid of the ads is one route). This *is* a concern,
especially if they start analysing my personal data, whom I call,
etc., for targeted ads.

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | p...@goldshmidt.org

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MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-10 Thread Amos Shapira
In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html

Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?

I guess they aren't daft enough to just drop it but would they shuffle their
feet even more when working on none-Windows platforms (as if they aren't far
enough behind already)?

--Amos
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Re: MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

2011-05-10 Thread Steve G.
Unless they radically changed, their main goal is to force people to use
their OS and Office suit, so the support for any other platform would be
weak at best.

What reliable alternative can one use for VOIP and phone in Linux? Including
land line and cellular calls for low cost. I remember Ekiga, but do not
think it ever got too far off the ground, and last time I tried google voice
was not that great under linux either.

Z.

2011/5/10 Amos Shapira amos.shap...@gmail.com

 In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
 http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html

 Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?

 I guess they aren't daft enough to just drop it but would they shuffle
 their feet even more when working on none-Windows platforms (as if they
 aren't far enough behind already)?

 --Amos


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