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Idea #15581: Pressure Skype To Update, Webcam Support & SMS

Written by woodenfox the 13 Nov 08 at 13:45. Category: Internet & Networking. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
_______________________________________________________

We Demand:
> 64-bit Support!
> SMS
> High Quality Video
> An Updated UI

It's time the weight of the Ubuntu population put it's foot down on the terrible support, and lack of updates provided by eBay's Skype.

Developers: Please attempt to contact Skype & offer your support in helping with the release of further updates. If they would provide us with a module we could build on, by providing us with a way of integrating with the program beyond the API, this would help us develop on our own.

Users: Please post your request for additional support on the skype forums:
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=102257

_______________________________________________________

Tags: Skype SMS webcam

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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #15581
Written by woodenfox the 13 Nov 08 at 13:45.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #15581 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Comments
woodenfox wrote on the 13 Nov 08 at 13:47
Even though many of us have mixed feelings about Skype. The Skype-In feature with local #'s sets this program apart from all the rest. We need this program to work, and work well.

Eldmannen wrote on the 13 Nov 08 at 16:10
Skype probably contains government backdoors. I wouldn't trust it. It is probably tapped.

If it were open source, we could have 64-bit support. Problem with proprietary software is that we cant trust it, and we cant improve it ourselves.

I suggest you use Ekiga instead which follows open standard protocols like SIP. Ekiga is open source, and unlike Skype probably not backdoored.

glotz wrote on the 13 Nov 08 at 16:15
When they GPL Skype, I promise to give it a try.

jjchico wrote on the 14 Nov 08 at 09:12
AndrewLuecke:

I think skype is not supporting Linux because it is not their priority. Maintaining a linux package is not that difficult. Many Debian/Ubuntu developers maintain hundreds of packages and they do that for free in their free time. It should not be an issue to Skype to hire a single guy to maintain several (maybe just two or three) linux packages for the few major distributions. Simply, linux is not priority for Skype.

I think using Skype in linux is BAD, even if it has technical advantages, because it is non-free and used a proprietary protocol. I think it is bad because linux is what it is because it is free software and used open protocols.

I personally use SIP (ekiga, etc.):
- you are free to use the provider you like, even many of them at the same time. There are plenty SIP providers that offer much better prices than Skype (last time I checked).
- you can use the software you like for your PC, PDA, etc.
- you can communicate with anyone, no matter what provider they use (just like e-mail).
- you do not have to pressure your friends to use non-free software and secret protocols to communicate with you.

If Skype is technically superior to SIP (I do not know) then you better pressure SIP developers to match Skype functionality. This is the right path in the Linux world and the best bet for users.

click170 wrote on the 3 Dec 08 at 01:17
AndrewLuecke, Nobody is forcing anybody here, this is just a place to brainstorm. This is a place to express one's opinion, jjchico's that Skype is bad because it's proprietary and untrustworthy (I agree) and others who think Skype may benefit from providing better linux support.

I do agree that Skype might become more popular and more widely adopted if there was better linux support for things like 64Bit, video chats, and better usability. That said though, the linux advocate inside of me will always prefer an open source alternative to an equal proprietary one.


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