The future of Ubuntu Linux.... Will it make Micky$oft go bankrupt?

[marc]

H.S. said:

> Oh, Ekiga "just works" through firewalls, at least in the situations I
> have used it. This is same as Skype.

They both piggyback on port 80. It can cause real problems in some 
environments. The port can also be changed on the client. It also 
"explores" on a "random" port, which _is_ a problem. Skype is a 
completely well-behaved guest.

> At present, the main argument people make in favor of Skype is "oh,
> everyone else is using it", as you did. Perhaps you can show some
> enlightening leadership to your friends and nears ones to convince them
> of the inherent problems with Skype and to try other alternatives?

Name one and I'll try it and try to persuade others.

Brief reqs:
- Linux and Windows clients
- self test facility
- free, client to client
- calls to land lines, all major nations (non-free is fine)
- inform when someone is online
- send sms
- chat

I don't care about video, file xfer, and certainly not PayPal, which I 
would regard as a negative - I will never touch anything PayPal with a 
barge pole - give me real bank xfers and I'd be interested, but a 
reformed banking system is at least two or three more collapses down the 
line.

-- 
Best,
Marc