Prizefight - The contenders: Google Voice vs Skype

[menotu]

http://reviews.cnet.com/2722-9238_7-758.html

[Was_Just19]

I prefer SIP from one of the thousands SIP service providers.

Not tied to a PC ....  and most definitely not to a browser! Nor tied to any particular hardware.

Skype - proprietary - and uses the users PC as a server for its closed network.
They can keep it ......

Google ....  anything from Google is now suspect ......  too much data mining for me to be comfortable.
They were supposed to become compatible with SIP .....  but have not heard anything about that lately.
If they don't then it is just another closed system ......  with serious concerns about privacy.

So no reason at all to consider changing from SIP to one of those two services ......  although I have used both from my PC.

There is little or no price difference between all of the providers when it comes to terminating a call to a POTS service.

regards.

[sixthwheel]

I prefer SIP from one of the thousands SIP service providers.

Can you call anyone who has skype, with it?

[Was_Just19]

I prefer SIP from one of the thousands SIP service providers.

Can you call anyone who has skype, with it?

Not previously .....  but I did hear Skype were thinking of opening their network to such calls but I have no idea if they did.
Neither can Skype users call anyone not in the Skype network ....  except to pay to connect with a landline or mobile phone service.

As I mentioned Skype is a closed setup ......  and it seems so is Google to date.

Yet thousands of other providers allow free calls from all providers on SIP, as well as charging for calls terminated at a standard phone service.

regards.

[craesz]

I prefer SIP from one of the thousands SIP service providers.

Not tied to a PC ....  and most definitely not to a browser! Nor tied to any particular hardware.

Interesting. I'm not sure what an SIP might be but you've made me curious as to how you pull this off. What package is in the repo that works the same as skype or google that allows the video? and file transfer?

Pidgin allows chat, Kopete??? Obviously I haven't investigated this at all, but I would love to get away from google and skype.... right now I'm tied to google because of my cell phone.... your solution might be able to push me the right direction. Thanks.

[menotu]

What package is in the repo that works the same as skype or google that allows the video? and file transfer

?

I've never use it craesz but I believe "Twinkle" is in the repos and uses SIP.

Oh, here you are:

http://www.twinklephone.com/

But JohnBoy may be able to offer better solutions/advise for you.

[PendragonUK]

As with so many competing services it becomes one of critical mass, how many users?

Everyone in my family uses Skype, I can argue till the cows come home. If I want to talk to my mum I use skype and that's an and to it...

[Wildman]

1st round: Bell rings, They approach each other in the center of the ring, one throws a thunderous right cross the other a blinding fast left hook,   
'WHAM', uh oh, count is 7-8-9-10... its a double knock out! 
Neither is worth much!   

[Was_Just19]

 

***

@ craesz

There are several apps in the repo that use SIP.

I do not normally use my PC for voice calls but I have tested Pidgin lately with voice using the gmail service .....  just to see if it works.
I was not able to test the video aspect of it .....  but it shows as being available.
Look for Pidgin plugins for the extra functionality.

Others you may wish to try out

Twinkle
Ekiga
Kopete
Linphone
Qutecom
Gyache

Yes I agree with PendragonUK .....  Skype got to Win users before any were aware of the existence of SIP.
SIP was not promoted for personal use at all until the last few years. It has traditionally been a business service, so it never had any desktop clients or such things.

I use SIP through my router, which has an inbuilt Analog Telephone Adapter (previously used one I plugged into the router). This allows me to plug in a standard telephone -- wired or DECT -- and use it just like a normal landline.
The router holds a phone book with quick dial numbers ....  so to call a friend in Australia I just type in two numbers in the phone and it rings through. I think the limit is about 60 numbers in my setup.
Of course I can also enter a number completely manually.
I also can use it for free calling to other SIP users around the world, regardless their SIP provider.

Just a thought ....  is it Pidgin that has the Skype integration?  Some one of those apps were doing something like that but not being a Skype user I did not spend a lot of time looking at it.

I probably posted elsewhere in the forum on this .....  but memory is not what it might be 

regards.