Software Freedom Day: Hunt for Skype alternatives

MJ Ray mjr at phonecoop.coop
Tue Sep 18 11:44:48 UTC 2012


Timo Juhani Lindfors <timo.lindfors at iki.fi>
> MJ Ray <mjr at phonecoop.coop> writes:
> > Sure, but the reasons given for free software alternatives not working
> > seemed to be problems with the network at that university.  Install a
> > VPN client or a Skype-style network-buster and one or more of
> 
> But where do you connect with the VPN client?

Me? I connect to one of the co-op's VPN servers.

If I were setting up a competitor to Skype, I'd connect people to the
Skype-competitor's VPN if they've no other way of getting a useful
internet connection (if my software can't crack their network).  Then
I'd aim to cover the cost of the VPN by selling users services like
inbound and outgoing calls to the legacy telephone network at a
premium.

I've no idea if Skype has such a VPN-like feature, but it's one way
which a business could do it, but would be harder for a voluntary
project to support.  It would also need more care with a FOSS
project not to let users free-ride on the VPN for other things.

Hope that explains,
-- 
MJ Ray (slef), member of www.software.coop, a for-more-than-profit co-op.
http://koha-community.org supporter, web and library systems developer.
In My Opinion Only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html
Available for hire (including development) at http://www.software.coop/



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