If you want computer to computer, there are plenty of chat clients that would work - Jabber, msn, aol, yahoo, I think all have voice and video communications in them. Gmail is another excellent system. The problem is the network effect - both sides must be part of the system.<br>
<br>To make phone calls, other than skype there is ekiga and probably some other things, as well as gmail, but these are not free.<br><br>Personally, whatever RMS puts on his web site, is what I will NOT be using in the future. Even if it means I have to buy MS OS, though considering that practically all laptop computers have MS on them, I doubt it would be an issue.<br>
<br>I have been a devout proponent of OSS solutions for many years, but there is something to be said for for-profit software - you are not dependent on RMS and his likes. A real company supports its product regardless of politics. <br>
<br>Go Proprietary Software!<br><br>Z.<br><br>CC to RMS.<br><br><br>2011/6/10 Evyatar Parker <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:evp55555@gmail.com">evp55555@gmail.com</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div dir="ltr">there are many alternatives, like XMPP. if you need skype compatibility though there is less choice: mainly you can use <a href="http://imo.im" target="_blank">imo.im</a>. There is also a plugin for Miranda IM (FOSS) that uses <a href="http://imo.im" target="_blank">imo.im</a> as a skype proxy.<div>
<div></div><div class="h5"><div>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2011/6/10 Etzion Bar-Noy <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ezaton@tournament.org.il" target="_blank">ezaton@tournament.org.il</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">By logging in to their site, you can reactivate your credits.<br><br>Ez<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div></div><div>2011/6/10 Uri Even-Chen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:uri@speedy.net" target="_blank">uri@speedy.net</a>></span><br>
</div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div></div><div><div dir="ltr">Hi people,<div><br></div><div>I saw Richard Stallman's signature:</div>
<div>
> Skype: No way! That's nonfree (freedom-denying) software.<br>> Use free telephony <a href="http://directory.fsf.org/category/tel/" target="_blank">http://directory.fsf.org/category/tel/</a><br>
</div><div><br></div><div>I'm using Skype to communicate with my friends. I mostly use it for instant messaging (not phone calls). I did use it for phone calls in the past, but I don't have a microphone attached to my computer - so today I use regular phone (018). When I used Skype for phone calls, I paid Skype for "Skype out" credit, but Skype zeroed my credit after a few months of not using their service - which I consider stealing money from me. For all that reasons, I don't want to use Skype. But Skype is a monopoly - all my friends use it. Even my grandmother wants to start using it. What free alternatives are there to Skype? (free as in freedom of course).</div>
<div><br></div><div>By the way, what do you think about Google talk? I use Google talk from my Gmail account (I didn't download the software).</div><div><br></div><div>I'm using Windows XP on PC. And Google Chrome as my browser.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Thanks,</div><div><div>Uri Even-Chen</div><div>Mobile Phone: <a href="tel:%2B972-50-9007559" value="+972509007559" target="_blank">+972-50-9007559</a></div><div>E-mail: <a href="mailto:uri@speedy.net" target="_blank">uri@speedy.net</a></div>
<div>Website: <a href="http://www.speedy.net/" target="_blank">http://www.speedy.net/</a></div>
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