Voice and video chat programs.

[Keith Powell]

On Wednesday 14 Dec 2005 2:16 pm, John Ruschmeyer wrote:
> Keith Powell wrote:
> >From what I have been able to find out, it would appear that the
> > chat programs are very restricted.
> >
> >It seems that, chatting over the internet, Skype can only talk to
> >Skype, GnomeMeeting to GnomeMeeting, Gizmoproject to Gizmoproject,
> >and so on. In other words, both users have to be running the same
> >program.
> >
> >Is this correct, or can different programs be used either end of
> > the chat?
>
> The question is not so much the programs as the protocols they
> support.
>
> Skype is, aurguably, the worst in this regard. It uses a
> proprietary protocol and, as you pointed out, you can only use it
> to talk to other Skype users. (I'll ignore Skype-out for obvious
> reasons.)
>
> GnomeMeeting, on the other hand, is based on the H.323 protocol for
> audio and video conferencing and, therefore, can interoperate with
> other videoconferencing clients such as Microsoft NetMeeting.
>
> Gizmoproject is built on top of the Sip protocol with the
> underlying infastructure provided by sipphone.com. As a result, you
> could sing up with Gizmoproject, but then use and Sip-based client
> to talk to other Gizmoproject users. Further, with a little bit of
> trick dialing one can even use the interconnection of Sip networks
> to talk to users on, say, FreeWorldDialup.
>
> <<<john>>>

John,

Thank you very much for your clear explanation of the programs' 
protocol differences. 

I would want to chat with both a Skype user, and our family who run 
WindowsXP (not at the same time). So it looks as though I will need 
to install two programs.

A good example of standardisation!

Keith