Microsoft Is Buying Out Skype

[curaga]

Shit, this is the second time this week I like MS for something.

(The first was what Linus said about Win on ARM: it will force needed standardization, a win for linux).

[dgrafenhofer]

What about gtalk? Seems to be based on open standards + there are open source clients.

Well, I forgot that they are using h.264 for video at the moment (not a problem in Europe anyways). But they are working on employing VP8 in the future.

[matthewbpt]

or the standard for telephony over the internet: SIP?

A bit of testing using a free account over at ekiga.net shows it works fine with audio+video. And there's no google lock-in (why oh why is the first thing mentioned in this thread a google service/protocol? I thought this was a linux/FOSS site )

Because google talk, being based in XMPP, is based on FOSS techonology, that's why FOSS programs like Pigin and Empathy can do google voice and video chat! I don't see this as a lock in.

[madjr]

maybe we will get our own open MONO version of the skype client.

if so, is not so bad then!

but, this is uncertain, so am looking to switch to google voice in the mean time

[timofonic]

Because google talk, being based in XMPP, is based on FOSS techonology, that's why FOSS programs like Pigin and Empathy can do google voice and video chat! I don't see this as a lock in.

Jingle is built on top of XMPP...

Are you sure of it? Last time Pidgin wasn't able to do video calls, it seems they added support but the protocol isn't really compatible with Google Talk.

Are you sure voice/video calls are possible with clients using the web-based or native client from Google?

[mendieta]

Because google talk, being based in XMPP, is based on FOSS techonology, that's why FOSS programs like Pigin and Empathy can do google voice and video chat! I don't see this as a lock in.

But can you download a standalone GTalk client and just chat/talk away with friends? It seems like you need a gmail account. That seems onerous.

I use skype to talk to people all over the world. Many of them use windows and some apple. I use Linux of course. I need something popular and easy to install to replace Skype, and I need it now (before MS cripples the Linux version of Skype).

I think this is a chance for Google to step up GTalk: make it available in android. Make it a simple download in all operating systems. Make it a plugin in chrome. Easy set up. Easy login.

[Qaridarium]

This is GREAT news. Skype was a destructive force in VoIP telecommunications to begin with. Now that MS has their fangs into it, it is sure to die, leading to greater freedom in VoIP communications and a renewed push for the use of decentralized SIP.

I don't say this often, but THANK YOU MICROSHAFT!

LOOOL yes you get it.... whatever Microsoft touch it will die on an long therm.

in my Point of view microsoft lose 8 000 000 000 dollar in this round.

google can build a similar system to skype for maybe 1000 000 dollar.

maybe google don't name it as cool as skype does have a cool name but it will work and it will be open.

[RealNC]

in my Point of view microsoft lose 8 000 000 000 dollar in this round.

google can build a similar system to skype for maybe 1000 000 dollar.

I can build it for a hundred bucks or even free, but that's hardly the issue. The issue is marketing and getting people to use it. And that is something you can't do with a hundred or a thousand bucks.

[mendieta]

google can build a similar system to skype for maybe 1000 000 dollar.

Google has that system already, see my post above. I tried video chat and it works beautifully, I do have some concerns though (again, see that post)

[89c51]

Google has that system already, see my post above. I tried video chat and it works beautifully, I do have some concerns though (again, see that post)

what app combination have you tried??? (ie Gtalk to Pidgin or something else)?

also has anyone tried Android/Nexus S Gtalk to Pidgin/telepathy????