Skype alternative(s)?

[hoijui]

This is kind of a poll or a try to gather ideas.

how realistic is it to even try?
(as in... if you are the only one you know that does not use skype, it will not work)
What software/server/protocol?

One of these?
http://www.jitsi.org/
http://planet.gnu.org/gnutelephony/?p=14

Are any of the alternatives as user friendly?

Most importantly of course.. do you use an alternative yourself?

[Jazcash]

I use TeamSpeak, Mumble and Skype. All pinned to my taskbar because I use them all as frequently as each other tbh.

[Forboding Angel]

Google talk

[Petah]

facetime?, windows messenger?

[KDR_11k]

SIP based telephony?

[hoijui]

For a true Skype alternative, one would have to be able to call regular phones too (even though i use this seldomly myself).
I think TeamSpeak, Mumble, Windows messenger and Google Talks do all not have this feature.

Cross-platform support is also important.
FaceTime is Apple, and uses it's own protocol. Same for windows messenger.
It sucks if for some people you have to use an other application just cause they are not using the same OS.

I personally also see SIP based stuff as the logical alternative, but it seems to be quite some more complex to use (choose a server, register online(?), set server credentials in SIP app, ... i have not tried myself yet though). Of course it would not be a problem for us, but for most of the people we'd want to talk to.

[Forboding Angel]

For a true Skype alternative, one would have to be able to call regular phones too (even though i use this seldomly myself).
I think TeamSpeak, Mumble, Windows messenger and Google Talks do all not have this feature.

You've been able to do this via google talk for a long ass time. Plus, it's free. I use it frequently, as my business number is my google voice number.

Google talk is also cross platform. Use it inside your browser via gmail.

[dansan]

Ekiga [1] is a Open Source SIP client that runs on Linux and Windows (no MacOS binary ). Its account wizard walks you through an easy configuration process including a free SIP-provider registration (ekiga.net) including an optional phone-call-account (PSTN gateway).

There should be a free (at least as in beer), comparable SIP client for MacOS.

[1] https://www.ekiga.net/

[hoijui]

hmm strange.. why would they not advertise PC to phone calls on their site then?
Google Talk is also windows only, so still no real alternative.

[Licho]

Google talk works for android perhaps its for linux too now?

[Forboding Angel]

Google Talk is also windows only, so still no real alternative.

Check out the following ways to chat on the web and on your desktop:
Video and voice plug-in


Chat within Gmail, iGoogle, and orkut
All on the web
PC and Mac

Learn more ┬╗
Install video chat plug-in

Requires Windows XP + or
Mac OS X 10.4 +
Linux

The desktop client is windows only, and also is only barely supported. The web client has all the features, and that is available on any platform.

Gmail + Gvoice +Gtalk is all you should need out of any client, and it all runs form one interface, your gmail account.

[hoijui]

either you are unclear forrb, or googles advertiyement is bad.
you saz everzthing is possible from the browser plugin, while reading google pages gives me the impression that it does not allow communication with phones.
i guess it is a feasible alternative, alltogether.
not for me of course... switching from skype(MS) to google is kind of pointless.

[dansan]

hmm strange.. why would they not advertise PC to phone calls on their site then?

You're referring to Ekiga? I guess they didn't think about advertising it, because SIP is the protocol that is _most_ used for calling to PSTN.
Almost every IP-phone (except Skype-phones) on the market does that: it connects to a SIP provider and that connects it to the PSTN.
If you're looking for a SIP-provider in Germany try the most popular: http://www.sipgate.de/ (US -> sipgate.com, but I guess there are better providers in the US, as this one started in Germany).

[AF]

Hoijui, Google Voice....

[KDR_11k]

Also a nice part of SIP is that they make physical phones for that so you can put a proper telephone on your desk and use that for VoIP. Polycom's a popular brand (but hell to configure if you don't have a PBX with automatic provisioning), Yealink may be worth it for cost.

[hoijui]

dansan, i was talking about the google stuff.

I guess SIP is what works best for me, even though i still will have to use skype most of the time, as i will not be bale to convince any of the non-tech guys i communicate with to use something like SIP.
It would probably be like trying to convert a WoW player to switch to some spring game(s).

[BrainDamage]

dansan, i was talking about the google stuff.

I guess SIP is what works best for me, even though i still will have to use skype most of the time, as i will not be bale to convince any of the non-tech guys i communicate with to use something like SIP.
It would probably be like trying to convert a WoW player to switch to some spring game(s).

i use www.pbxes.org that lets me do skype calls ( only outgoing so far ) trough my sip phone
pbxes also allows google voice integration for paid users, but this postexplains you how to get it anyway using free services
( not that it matters for either of us, since google voice is currently usa-only, but it could be handy in the future )