Ekiga and Skype

[Phil in the scrub]

On 11 Nov, 19:27, Geoffrey <gcomb... at bigpond.com> wrote:
> Although I was aware of Skype and even installed it on MS Windows I did
> not sign up. I felt no pressing need to do so. That means I know nothing
> about telephoning via the Internet apart from using a similar thing
> called Echolink designed for radio amateurs (like me) who communicate
> around the world through VHF radio repeaters and the Internet.
> Then, as a Ubuntu 9.10 beginner, I found the so-called 'softphone' Ekiga
> in the applications menu. I signed up for Ekiga.net and sent a few
> dollars to Diamondcard.us to pay for PC to real phone.
> Ekiga boasts using a standard protocol, one that I presumed would be
> adopted by all 'softphone' software. Now I'm told that quote - "skype
> doesn't use the SIP system without purchasing additional hardware" -
> unquote. Evidently (?) Skype is different and doesn't communicate with
> Ekiga. I've learnt too that there is Skype for Linux.
> This is a bit of a disappointment. What happened to standard protocols?
> Incidently I have not yet upgraded to 9.10. I think I saw a comment on
> Ubuntu-AU that Ekiga is not part of the upgrade. If so what has taken
> its place?
> My questions of members are, in relation to Ubuntu:
> 1. Where do I go from the present position cited above?
> 2. How is the Ubuntu softphone-Skype matter resolved?
>
> Geoffrey Combes  
Hi Geoffrey,

I have given up on both skype for linux  and especially Ekiga

Although skype  worked on Linux it at times got pretty flaky  on skype
to skype  calls
I use my net phone    see called mynetfone

with just a soft fone   that comes with it  *the software*

On windoze the free soft phone works  fine

But on Both platforms   the KILLER app is a thing called
xlite   see http://www.counterpath.com/x-lite.html

Now this thing imo is the ducks guts  of all the soft phones I have
tried
using  mynetfone

My netfone help desk is fantastic chasing down little annoyances like
echo on the  called partyś end
changed a codec  and fiddled with a string   and now  better quality
than telstra  or optus  both ends

For $9.00 a month  I get 200 free UNTIMED calls to land lines
anywhere in oz  including xmas Island
all CLEAR  as a bell
Other night had to speak to sweden for over an hour and a half   cost
40cents ?  and was a Swedish mobile ?

that oen has me stuffed but not complaing

Xlite have a linux version   not as sweet as the windows version but
MUCH better than anything else I have tried

Now the neat thing I like about  MNF is  you get a normal phone number
with your area code
and those ringing in have no idea it is a VOIP connection.

If your away or the machine is off and you have not set call
forwarding   they can leave a voice message
now here is the neat bit :)
MNF send you an email with a wav file  appended  and you get the voice
message  !
time and from whom etc etc

straight away -one of the big irritations with helstra is  some days I
dont get message notification that
people have rung   for up to two days especially if they are with
other carriers . Not so with mnf

I have been with mnf two years  and ditched the home telstra   land
lines

with very heavy use I am averaging  20 bucks a month  (incl the 9
service fee)
when I ring a lot of mobiles  about 15cents a minute

The software comes for linux as a tar ball  file and you install it as
you would any other tar ball.

if you want to check the quality or any other part of the subject post
ring the d-i-d- 0894674703

I have the software installed on all 21 machines and the 4 lappyś
that are spread over my area of ops
from Perth  to Darwin   And also in  Thailand and Singapore HK Cocos
and UK &  UAE
NEVER  had a problem with xlite   although the mynetfone software  in
the early days gave me heaps of heartburn.
That problem mnf fixed about 3 months ago on their latest version .

While typing this I tried the linux skype   and reckon it is still a
dogs breakfast on linux .
Although the windows version  is ok for skype to skype  . Couple of
mates  had the paid version
and all have ditched it for things like penny tell  engine and mnf.

the Whirlpool.net.au site may be worth a visit  to check out voip I
recall they have a section dedicated both to voip and mnf

But EKIGA  I could NEVER  get to play nice
HTH
cheers
P