[kwlug-disc] Dump skype on Monday night

[unsolicited]

Steven Blatchford wrote, On 06/06/2011 3:02 PM:
> On 14:50 Mon 06 Jun, unsolicited wrote:
>> Khalid Baheyeldin wrote, On 06/06/2011 2:06 PM:
>>> On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 2:03 PM, Paul Nijjar <paul_nijjar at yahoo.ca>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sun, Jun 05, 2011 at 10:25:24AM -0700, John Kerr wrote:
>>>>> Perhaps some of us may want to try setting up Skype
>>>>> alternatives with our
>>>> Laptops.
>>>>
>>> The main issue with whichever Skype alternative is that you have to
>>> convince all your friends and family to switch to another product. Critical
>>> mass, social hurdle, ...etc.
>> Perhaps dumb questions, but:
>>
>> 1. There are Skype alternatives?
>> - for the moment, let's ignore the client and talk about the backbone.
>> - i.e. To Khalid's point, presumably the alternative has to have a
>> solid, wide-ranging presence - if we're to convince those we talk to
>> to consider trying the alternative. What might they be - google?
>> (Given Android?)
>>
>> 2. Why switch from Skype?
>> - I get that MS has purchased Skype - have there been any intimations
>> or news of 'nefariousness'?
>>
> 
> Not totally related, but one could just use voip.  Call IP to IP or if
> needed IP out the telco network.  I use linphone.
> 
> Going further off-topic, one could use My5 Canada to get a dial tone
> from a voip provider and then dial out from there.  There are calling
> card apps for blackberry, maemo etc to automate this.

Right, but I think the assumption of the thread is non-technical 
(relatives?) whom may not be using voip, or even linux. Thus my 
suggestion we focus on backbones (with at least linux clients), for 
the moment.

But, to your point, I would have thought anyone regularly using 
voip-related calling to other voip users would be programming the 
sip:<dyndns/ip address> into their voip address books. And I don't 
believe one can call a Skype address via voip pstn access numbers. 
(e.g. http://www.sipbroker.com/sipbroker/action/pstnNumbers)

I guess this also brings up the topic of directory (voip name + 
number) services. [But I can't recall the name, term, or website, off 
the top of my head.]