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Super UserFree, open source, cross-platform alternative to Skype
[+36] [3] Randolf Richardson
[2011-05-10 23:43:18]
[ skype open-source cross-platform conferencing ]
[ http://superuser.com/questions/281821/free-open-source-cross-platform-alternative-to-skype ]

What free, open source, cross-platform alternatives to Skype are there that also don't contain banner ads (although a reminder for donations at shutdown would be acceptable)? Connecting to real land-lines is not needed (although if this feature is available but isn't free, that's also okay).

I like the way Skype implements communications with audio (optional), video (optional), and typing (always available) so that people with any combination of these three mediums can communicate effectively. The lack of banner advertising is very nice too because I don't have to worry about my children seeing inappropriate imagery in banner advertisements when they use it.

The major platforms to be supported should include:

Smart phone support (e.g., Google Android, Apple iPhone {regardless of whether the iPhone has to be unlocked}, BlackBerry, etc.) would be a bonus too, but is not a requirement.

(10) Is this because Skype are now Borg? :) - Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
(5) @techie007 my +1 sure is - cabbey
(1) @techie007: I'm mainly concerned about privacy and security because it's closed-source. - Randolf Richardson
(2) @Randolf Richardson - Just weird timing then I suppose. ;) - Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
(2) @techie007: I've also been having problems downloading it lately; I wish to download it so that I can install it for other people who want to use it, but Skype can no longer be downloaded freely -- downloaders are forced to register with some key personal information before they are permitted to download it: login.skype.com/account/signup-form?application=download - Randolf Richardson
(3) You should accept only correct answers... - Not a Name
[+29] [2011-05-11 00:48:00] user112553

If you're concerned about privacy, I'm not so sure about the benefits of turning to Google over Skype/Microsoft. Probably a better alternative would be using a SIP [1] client.

SIP

SIP is a distributed and fully open VoIP and video and presence/chat [2] spec "distinguished by its proponents for having roots in the IP community rather than the telecommunications industry. SIP has been standardized and governed primarily by the IETF[.]" ( Wikipedia [3])

It's roughly comparable to how Jabber/XMPP works and independent of platform, as all you need is a client following these specs.

Google have announced plans to support SIP in the future, so GoogleTalk users will be connected eventually, should user base be a concern.

Use

Talking from SIP account to SIP account is free while routing to landlines is offered by gateway providers such as Sipgate.com [4] at the usual low prices. They offer a plan with "phone number for life, [...] no monthly charges, set up fees or monthly minimum", and incoming calls are free as well.

I've even set mine up to send SMS texts via the command line, if that's your type of thing.

Clients

Basically, all SIP clients can talk to each other. You can use soft phones written for your platform or even go for an integrated hardware solution so your PC doesn't need to be turned on and you can use a normal handset phone.

The soft phone I personally use (mainly for its command-line version/scriptability) is Linphone [5] (POSIX, Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iPhoneOS):

Linphone is an audio and video Internet phone with GTK+ and console interfaces. It uses the SIP protocol, and is compatible with most SIP clients and gateways. It can use various audio and video codecs such as Speex, GSM, G711, ilbc, amr, Theora, H263-1998, MPEG4, H264, and snow.

I've heard good things about Ekiga [6] and Empathy [7], too, but can't personally vouch.

See also the section on Free and/or open source software on Wikipedia's List of SIP software [8], their list of SIP providers [9] (mainly for external links), and the article on SIP in general [10].

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol#Instant_messaging_and_presence
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol#Protocol_design
[4] http://www.sipgate.com/
[5] http://www.linphone.org/eng/download/packages/
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiga
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_%28software%29
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SIP_software#Free_and_open_source_license_2
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIP_provider
[10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol

This is excellent because it's also based on an open protocol, and it answers my question very well. Thank you. - Randolf Richardson
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[+16] [2011-05-10 23:48:52] Simon Sheehan [ACCEPTED]

I assume you're switching due to today's business deal between Skype and Microsoft. You aren't alone!

An easy one to acquire now is Google Talk. [1] It's quite similar to Skype, with full video calling and chat. Living in the USA, Canada, and some other countries, you can even make calls for free; there is a browser plugin directly from Gmail that will do that. Almost all the features can be used from the site, with a small plugin.

Requires Windows XP +
or Mac OS X 10.4 +
or Linux

Google is definitely leading something interesting here, just from the browser.

[1] http://www.google.com/talk/

Woah, so that's what @techie007 means by the "Borg" reference! (I don't keep up with the news because I find that it's very common for the reporters to generate a lot of wrong information.) This news certainly is a concern for me though -- I wonder how long it will be before Skype is riddled with demographics-profiling advertisements in the future just like some of the other free services (e.g., MSN Messenger, HotMail, etc.). - Randolf Richardson
(1) @SimonSheehan: I tried to accept your answer by clicking on the checkmark (even though you didn't include Unix, most stuff that runs on Linux will usually run there too), but an empty pink box appeared and the checkmark hasn't turned green yet (I'll keep trying). - Randolf Richardson
(1) @RandolfRichardson: Probably because the time limit isn't up yet. - Wuffers
@Mark Szymanski: Do you know what the time limit is? I'll gladly wait and try again after that. (Edit a few minutes later: Don't worry about it, it's working now.) - Randolf Richardson
(3) Where can I download the source code to my own Google Talk server? - Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
@techie007: Ah, good question. I'm trying to find this too. If something else comes along that fits the needs better, I'll switch my "accepted answer," but Google Talk has a lot of pull due to the Google brand name popularity (and also the support that Google has provided for some open source projects {e.g., Google Summer Of Code}). I hope there is a download link at least for the client-side of it. - Randolf Richardson
(1) @RandolfRichardson I have edited my post to include some more information. - Simon Sheehan
(1) @SimonSheehan: Thanks, I noticed that. =) - Randolf Richardson
(1) @techie007 Its a full network, you do not need your own server. If you do want your own VOIP server, I recommend Mumble. - Simon Sheehan
(2) Here's the link for "Mumble" (for those who are interested): mumble.sourceforge.net - Randolf Richardson
Mumble is exceedingly slow, IMHO. - Dhaivat Pandya
GVoice is not working yet on my contry (Brazil).... - Diogo
(8) This isn't an open source tool. Derp. - Not a Name
@Not the OP seemed okay with it. - Simon Sheehan
(3) It still doesn't answer the question... - Not a Name
(1) @Not I think your looking at it the wrong way, but okay - Simon Sheehan
(4) Not only is it not open source, it's far from free! (In the sense of libre.) - sampablokuper
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[+1] [2012-03-24 20:11:28] Luis

A major alternative to proprietary Skype, could be a peer to peer network. We have p2p for files exchange, for torrents, for money (bitcoin) and a quick search in google has returned a few attempts in this direction. One of them is OpenVoIP [1]

An uncentralized p2p network for VoIP, texting and video would bring many benefits, but still seems a little bit far.

[1] http://www1.cs.columbia.edu/~salman/peer

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