Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements

http://ostatic.com/blog/bye-bye-skype-top-3-free-replacements

by linuxnow • 15 years ago

71 68 15 years ago

maqr• 15 years ago

I'll be trying to get my contacts to use Google Talk. It has all the features of Skype, including video conferencing, for free.

bad_user2• 15 years ago

Unfortunately the desktop client needs some work, and AFAIK it supports only windows.

And another thing I don't like about Google Talk is that last time I tried, it had no support for multi-user video-conferencing. Neither do the free Skype accounts, but I think on Skype you can have a video-conference with up to 4 users.

So if Google is going to put some resources into GTalk, then it will kick-ass (you'll just tell your friends / colleagues to download the client and to use their GMail account for login), or just use the GMail web interface (which currently is more capable than the stable desktop client :)).

Otherwise there is no good alternative to Skype.

Derbasti2• 15 years ago

Google Talk runs in the browser. I tried it on Windows and Mac without problems. Actually, we found it to be more reliable than Skype at low bandwidths.

trezor2• 15 years ago

I know absolutely nobody who uses Google Talk. Posting on Facebook "Does anyone here really use Google Talk?" there was a roaring silence in response.

I can't for the life of me see why you would go from a minor evil service like Skype/MSN/whatever with a variety of clients to choose from to a monsterous big-brother service like Google Talk.

Aren't we giving Google enough power and dominance as it is?

Edit: To comment on the actual article, it seems to be a mix of supposedly fashionate "Microsoft sucks" attitude, standard "Microsoft is evil" paranoia and some legitimate concerns about future support for non-Microsoft platforms.

IMO the only one worthy of discussion would be the last one.

aaimnr• 15 years ago

1) Each gmail user is also a GTalk user. It's very convenient to be able to reach people not using any other IMs through the GTalk's web interface.

2) In corporate environment it's sometimes the only option, due to inability to install 3rd party software.

3) There's a huge advantage of GTalk over Skype - Skype is a P2P protocol. If you send a message to an offline contact and disconnect, he will never receive it unless at some point you are both online. It makes sense for VOIP obviously, but for IM that's just ridiculous.

For the same reason there's no server-side history - no way to reach lot of important information after you reinstall the system, break computer etc.

kalleboo• 15 years ago

All my friends use Google Talk since we all have Android phones and use it instead of SMS since it's free.

I've never used the voice/video desktop client though.

mitjak2• 15 years ago

Perhaps you're not popular enough on Facebook?

But more seriously, me and most of my contacts have switched to Google Talk as the Windows Live client is very bloated these days and GTalk generally connects faster and is always there as part of Gmail when you log in on any platform on any computer (eg friend's computer, library etc).

windsurfer2• 15 years ago

I use "google talk" by using my own Jabber server. Google talk intergrates with XMPP very nicely. Even video chat works. Google Talks interoperability makes it the best choice for the average consumer.

flomincucci• 15 years ago

All of my friends and coworkers use Google Talk. I don't even have MSN! (and I barely use Skype, since my desktop computer doesn't have webcam nor microphone). In the end, I use the videochat feature on GMail, because it actually works pretty well.

I guess it all depends of the people around you.

ignifero• 15 years ago

Good luck doing a job or phd interview on google talk. My understanding is that skype has patents on a myriad of things related to live audio/video. Plus it works really really well and does screen sharing too (which means you can do presentations online). It's not just the network effect here. It's actually a better-than-the-rest product (and i sure hope MS won't make it a mess). Plus, its not less free than gtalk .

p4bl05• 15 years ago

I don't see why people would quit using Skype now. The fact that it has been bought by Microsoft doesn't change that Skype is evil. It already was. It already was a closed source software using a proprietary protocol and doing stuff you don't know with your bandwidth.

Don't get me wrong, it's great if people switch from Skype to something free (as in freedom), but not if it's because it has been bought by Microsoft, this makes no sense.

stashdot• 15 years ago

The simple reason is that the Linux version of Skype might be axed as a result of the acquisition. This has happened before.

fname• 15 years ago

Except that they refuted that very statement in their press release

Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/may11/05-10Cor...

wyclif2• 15 years ago

The reality is that losing the Linux client for Skype isn't a tragedy, since it sucks and has since the beginning, unlike the Mac client.

steve-howard• 15 years ago

Really? "Evil" just because it's closed-source? Regardless, I'd imagine most Linux Skype users have at least a few Windows users on their contact lists -- and good luck getting them to switch operating systems.

limmeau• 15 years ago

The other point was using bandwidth. If you run Skype on a well-connected computer, you can't decide whether you want to become a big Skype relay node for your part of the world; Skype decides that for you.

p4bl05• 15 years ago

The word "evil" is too strong, I agree. But even if people continue to use Windows, at least they could use a software with an open protocol for their communications, not something with which you don't know what some company do with your data.

Disclaimer: I'm guilty myself since I use facebook for instance.

shubble• 15 years ago

This presentation: http://goo.gl/hgkea [pdf], shows why skype is evil.

The protocol and client are both obfuscated at cost to performance and security. Exploits have been found repeatedly for everything from remote code execution to using skype clients like a botnet.

Non-NAT'd nodes are forced to carry traffic for NATed nodes. Skype have the ability to intercept your calls, but you guessed that anyway.

Also, if everyone in the world used one phone company, or bank, and that company refused to allow other new companies to inter-operate, they would face antitrust. Skype, and arguably facebook, control their markets. They should be forced to allow inter-op.

daliusd• 15 years ago

Just humorous accident. I got request to update Skype this morning and after update all I get is this: http://i.imgur.com/qYcwd.png (after that skype crashes).

sigzero2• 15 years ago

Stop using the word "evil". It doesn't apply.

windsurfer2• 15 years ago

Evil is a subjective word. It is the author's point of view. It's like saying a product looks bad.

pyre2• 15 years ago

  > doing stuff you don't know with your bandwidth.

But FreeNet is GPL and this pretty well describes it's standard operating procedure... Do you think FreeNet is evil too?

blauwbilgorgel• 15 years ago

When Skype is installed, it changes each phone number in your browser to a Skype button. For years webdesigners have been going crazy trying to convince either their clients to uninstall Skype or Skype to provide a durable fix for not wanting your phone-numbers highlighted.

You can safely call the Skype extension evil malware, if your giant call-to-action phonenumber is forced to be written like this: 012-34[span style="display:none"]_[/span]5678 or it becomes hijacked by a video chat program.

This thread starts at 2007 and goes downhill from there: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=78380 (Look at the meta tag solution, that works for a while, but doesn't work in XHTML strict. Microsoft and Skype definitely deserve each other)

sebkomianos• 15 years ago

Does it? I still see numbers normally in all my 3 browsers (Chrome, Opera, Safari).

StavrosK2• 15 years ago

The fact of the matter is, however, that if Skype could be replaced, it would.

josefresco• 15 years ago

Is that sort of like the: "If you invented Facebook you would have invented Facebook?" argument?

StavrosK2• 15 years ago

Yep, sounds like it. Skype doesn't need any more reasons to go away, it's horrible and unmaintained on most platforms (it crashes every 5-10 lines of chatting on all ny Linux computers, for instance), there's just no better competitor so far.

Here's hoping for Viber, I guess...

jister• 15 years ago

I don't see any reason to replace Skype.

darklajid2• 15 years ago

I see quite a lot of good reasons for it - but the site fails to list any decent alternatives. I don't think there are any at this point.

To give you an impression of things that might speak against using Skype (not that I want to imply that these should matter to you. I merely want to speak for the 'I'd like to leave (but cannot)' side):

1) It's proprietary. We cannot validate the protocol without reverse engineering (and even then they'd be free to break/change it). The security of Skype calls, one of the loudest arguments for using it, is dubious and it seems to be a fact by now that governments are allowed to/capable of recoding your calls.

2) Resource heavy: If you ever compared a Skype conference (audio only) with any other system, the resource usage is ridiculous. Mostly CPU, but also network wise.

3) In your face advertisements: The (unacceptable) UI constantly pops up with 'subscribe here'/'buy credits there'/'did you know all the other ways you can hand over your money'. You can turn off most of these, but an update usually leads to the very same thing.

4) Maybe related to the P2P architecture: The behavior is unpredictable at times. I often see people online, they don't see me. Or vice versa. I can talk to someone on Skype, but messages (say, a link) fail to be delivered. Sometimes messages queue up for hours and completely lose their meaning when they arrive at 1am, asking about having lunch.

spauka• 15 years ago

What I have never understood about any of these arguments is the demonization of corporations for the purposes of argument.

IF, and I stress if, there is a better option, for users then I suggest use it. But arguments such as it was bought by Microsoft therefore it must be bad do not make sense. To be more specific, Skype had all the valid issues it had (such as proprietary format, advertising etc.) before it was acquired by Microsoft. The only new factor is its acquisition.

The fact that certain companies, Microsoft, IBM etc. have an 'evil', 'corporate' air about them, whereas companies (and this is a generalization for the sake of example) such as Google and Apple are the good guys don't make sense. I would like to see free software promoted for its merits, and to see bogus arguments based around who makes the product to disappear from the IT world.

No company is less evil than any other, and whether products should be used or not should not depend on who owns them, but how the products operate.

Wickk• 15 years ago

It's great that there's replacements. But let's be serious, I'm not going to be able to convince my friends/family who by and large is not going to care about any changes that MS brings to Skype.

Alternative VOIP programs are not in anyway new, the same issue of getting people to actually use these programs is still prevalent.

51Cards• 15 years ago

In most cases there are alternatives to every social platform, and frequently better ones than the popular 'standard'... but if there is no one there you want to talk to, it's not too useful.

Argorak3• 15 years ago

Hm, 3 Options, of which one only supports Linux (Empathy) and one only supports Windows & Linux (Ekiga). Only Linphone seems to have platform support that comes close to Skype. So, cut it down to one.

Personally, I think Linphone looks kind of dated and their site is full of google adwords. I would hesitate to send a link out to anyone.

p4bl05• 15 years ago

Linphone is "just" a SIP client. Your contacts can use it if they want and you can use another SIP client. Just like Google Talk use XMPP and people can use any client to connect to their GTalk account and then talk with anyone using Jabber/XMPP (even not Google Talk).

That's why open protocols are good. Because they're open.

Argorak3• 15 years ago

I am fully aware of that. Still, this post markets them as "skype alternatives". I think the biggest problem of selling those 'open protocols' to people is that there is no consistent base client as in 'lets all switch to skype (client, protocol, server, whatever)'. I work in a company where we use all major OSes. If I came up with "hey lets switch to client A for Linux users, client B for windows users and client X for OS X", people would stone me. They want one thing: one software to rule it all.

eropple3• 15 years ago

But "nobody uses it" makes it bad.

"Don't use Skype! Please!" doesn't really mean much when everybody I'd (or most people) would ever want to talk to thinks that Ekiga is a funny name for a rash.

timedoctor• 15 years ago

Skype IS Free, and a replacement would need significant improvements not just to be a bit less expensive to make calls.

Aramgutang• 15 years ago

Looks like the author meant free as in freedom, not beer.

sigzero2• 15 years ago

Everyone that I know that uses Skype couldn't care about the difference.

rootnt• 15 years ago

which one is the best replacement for skype? i've used ekiga and it's pretty good but dont know others. i want to introduce it to some noobs

joshaidan• 15 years ago

Although not cross-platform, FaceTime has one killer feature: it passes the mom test. Skype has passed it too, but not with as many flying colours as FaceTime.

Mom push button, mom video chatting with grand kids. No intervention from grand kids required.

AndrewWarner• 15 years ago

Don't underestimate the blanket coverage that Skype achieved.

I do interviews with people all over the world who have Skype already installed on their computers.

If I shifted to a different program -- even if it was better -- I'd have to spend time helping instal the new app before we could start our conversation.

Estragon• 15 years ago

Are there any replacements which plug me into Australia's landline phone system for $12/month? Because that is Skype's primary utility, for me.

bxr2• 15 years ago

You might be able to find a SIP provider that is cheaper, I used to use one here in the states that was about $5/month.

adamzochowski• 15 years ago

I use Skype to simplify international calling. I have a phone number in Poland (bought through Skype). People in Poland dial that number, and Skype routes it to a number of my choosing. I have numbers in countries that my family lives in. For them it is a local call, and it always gets directly to me.

Neither of the three shown alternatives provide this feature.

kmccarth• 15 years ago

Here are some just for the mac: http://bostinnovation.com/2011/03/21/top-3-skype-alternative...

Bye Bye Skype, Top 3 Free Replacements

Related Stories