[LINK] Skype beta3, free worldwide conference calls

[Alan L Tyree]

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 12:53:10 +1100
Kim Holburn <kim at holburn.net> wrote:

> On 2006/Nov/10, at 10:12 AM, Alan L Tyree wrote:
> > On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:46:47 +1100
> > Howard Lowndes <lannet at lannet.com.au> wrote:
> >> Ivan Trundle wrote:
> >>> On 09/11/2006, at 2:50 PM, stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
> >>>> Now, free worldwide computer to computer conference calls
> >>>>
> >>>> Media Release: SKYPE 3.0 BETA BRINGS THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
> >>>> TOGETHER
> >>>>
> >>>> http://about.skype.com/2006/11/skype_30_beta_brings_the_globa.html
> >>>>
> >>>> LUXEMBOURG, November 8, 2006 – Skype today released the latest
> >>>> version of its software, Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows. Skype users
> >>>> across the world can now enjoy even simpler and easier ways to
> >>>> talk to one another with new features that enable community-led
> >>>> chat and discussion.
> >>>
> >>> This is what bugs me about Skype. Firstly, Windows users are the
> >>> only ones to get improvements of any value. Mac users are always
> >>> one full version behind, and Linux users often more so.
> >>
> >> Perhaps Windows users are far more easily parted from their money
> >> then Linux types.  After all, they normally get stung for
> >> everything.
> >
> > Don't use Skype. Why get locked in to a proprietary format that
> > can't talk to anyone else? Use a SIP based service that is based on
> > open standards: Gizmo, Sjphone, Xten all work with Free World
> > Dialup and other SIP providers. Better yet, use a SIP service that
> > is open source:
> > Ekiga which allows multiple registrations.
> 
> SIP is a real pain to get across some firewalls.  If you have more  
> than one SIP user on a private subnet you have to have a special SIP  
> router (like say asterisk).  SIP and H323 put source and destination  
> IPs in the data rather than in the header like all normal IP
> protocols.

True enough. When I need to worry about firewalls, I would use Asterisk
and IAX through a Free World Dialup account. Or just use a IAX client
like Kiax. This still lets you connect to all SIP users. In fact, just
about everyone except Skype.

> 
> Skype on the pother hand is proprietary but it just works.  It works  
> across most firewalls.  If you have a firewall your system is never  
> promoted to supernode status.
> 
> As for the company issues SIP companies like gizmo and wengo have
> the same issues as skype where it concerns paying money.

I guess so, although I have never had any problem at all with Gizmo
(which is the only service that I give money to). In fact, one time
when I accidently rang Afghanistan they refunded my money.

Alan

> 
> > I tried Skype and found that it was frequently using bandwidth for  
> > some
> > purpose that I knew nothing about. Maybe Windows users are happy for
> > that to happen, but I don't see why anyone should put up with it.
> 
> --
> Kim Holburn
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-- 
Alan L Tyree                    http://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan
Tel: +61 2 4782 2670            Mobile: +61 427 486 206
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