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1

Criteria:

  • Audio/video calls
  • Encrypt the whole traffic [with a good encryption]
  • ported to windows 7 too
  • runs on Fedora, OpenBSD

Does anybody know a good alternative?

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1  
Well, there's Skype, which comes in a Linux version and can be run in OpenBSD via the Linux emulation layer. Can you explain why you're looking for an alternative? – mattdm♦ Mar 20 '11 at 13:02
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And a related question: Skype encrypts traffic, but its probable that the company can intercept calls. Is that a problem, or do you mostly care about your neighbors eavesdropping? – mattdm♦ Mar 20 '11 at 13:04
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skype license = freeware - we don't know what's inside of it. that is the problem. – LanceBaynes Mar 20 '11 at 13:21
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That's fine, I just wanted to be clear. So, having source is an important requirement? If so, that should be clearly listed. – mattdm♦ Mar 20 '11 at 13:28
@mattdm: sounds like he wants something that is FOSS. I do too. – Faheem Mitha Mar 20 '11 at 20:14
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5 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

Skype is a proprietary network so to get an open source client you must replace the entire Skype network.

The open source solutions are built around the Asterisk PBX/VOIP server. Asterisk supports SIP and its own IAX protocol. The IAX protocol has optional encryption and requires only one open port on firewalls. Pre-configured linux+asterisk distributions such as Trixbox will get you going. There exists asterisk service providers like teliax.com (and Diamondcard.us mentioned above) that host asterisk servers connecting to other networks (like cell, land lines). AFAICT nobody provides direct connectivity to Skype's network.

http://voip-info.org/ is the best source on asterisk-related VOIP technology.

Many VOIP clients listed here http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/Asterisk+IAX+clients . Some support video telephony via webcam, some are cross platform, proprietary and open source codecs must coexist. The setup of all this is truly hideous.

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up vote 2 down vote

Well, there are Ekiga and its various cousins eg. Twinkle, which support the SIP standard. Unfortunately my experience is that they do not work as reliably as Skype. In particular, Ekiga seems to get upset by Flash. That is understandable. I also find Flash quite upsetting.

If you can get Ekiga to work, its rates via Diamondcard.us are a lot cheaper than Skype, particularly for SMS, if you use that. The cost of an SMS for the locations I checked is around a third of Skypes. The difference for regular calls is less dramatic but still significant. And it is free (as in freedom) software, and seems to be quite cross-platform.

I think Ekiga does not currently support encryption, so that would violate one of your criteria.

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up vote 1 down vote

There isn't any yet :( that's the correct answer. But Thank you!

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up vote 0 down vote

There's Speak Freely & a Windows only version, but development was halted many years ago (Windows7 did not exist, but there was a Windows and a Linux version). So if you fancy picking it up where it was left, that could be an option.

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up vote 0 down vote

skype55 deobfuscated version released

http://skype-open-source.blogspot.de/2012/03/skype55-deobfuscated-released.html

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