On May 16, 2011, at 1:44 PM, Amos Shapira wrote:
Even before that - I've tried some of these SIP-based voice programs
on and off for a few years now and they *never* "just work" (let
alone "work") where as Skype is just a "plug a play" and voice clear
as a whistle from the first time I used it in ~2003..
I've used (not on Linux, but they do exist there) X-lite, Zoiper and
Voix (IAX only) and they work easily.
You can not connect a SIP client to another SIP client, there has to
be something in the middle. If you have firewalls in the way, you also
need a SIP Proxy, (aka Stunnel server). SIP uses different ports for
setting up and controlling a session and the actual voice data, and
most people never quite get that right. (It's not easy with 2
firewalls, NAT, etc).
Even more so - guys in my workplace who claim to have experience
setting up SIP and none-Skype voip exchanges still have trouble
setting up simple connections between our Sydney and San Francisco
offices. You can claim that it's their fault but my point is that
SIP (which is what all these solutions relay on) is just still too
hard to use.
That's barking up the wrong tree as it were. Asterisk systems with IAX
trunking will do the job and can be set up easily. SIP is much more
difficult.
You are right though, if you already have a Skype ID and a copy
installed on your system, you could call someone in another office in
a few seconds. You can also do voice conference, video calls and now
(if you pay for a "premium" account) video conferences. All with a
minimum of effort and almost no skill.
Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, N3OWJ/4X1GM
Occam's Razor does not apply to electronics. If something won't turn
on, it's
not likely to be the power switch.
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