Skype under Fedora-10

[Bill Davidsen]

Tim wrote:
> Tim:
>>> Skype's a lousy idea, for various reasons, and that's just one of them.
> 
> Rick Stevens:
>> A blanket statement bound to generate flames if I ever saw one.  I might
>> as well start the flame fest.
>>
>> I disagree, Tim.  Skype is a good idea.  There are bits that could be
>> done better, but parts of the service require quite a bit of capital
>> investment and there has to be a way to fund that.  Subscriptions is
>> one way.
> 
> I don't care if they run a service that people can pay for.  What I do
> care about is a lockin/lockout system.  Skype only talks to Skype.  The
> same problem with various other VOIP systems; the proprietary ones only
> talk to their own.  I've used a few VOIP systems that gave you no way to
> even dial anyone outside of their own system.  Sure you can pay extra to
> get a PSTN number, but the other side might have to do the same thing,
> too.  And just having one side *have* to do that, never mind both,
> obviates the purpose of using VOIP, in the first place.
> 
So everyone should stop using Skype because it doesn't work as you like? All the 
people I know want a portable phone number usable from any hot spot they can 
find. And Skype works just fine for that. Your purpose may be to talk to family 
and friends for free, and that's fine, but it certainly isn't the only way to 
talk to people, nor is it the only reason to have VOIP. The reason for cell 
phones is to have a number where you can be reached, rather than a list. That's 
a valid reason to have a Skype number, too, or any other VOIP to the POTS 
network provider.

I suspect when Google Talk (or whatever it's called) gets mature everything else 
will die.

-- 
Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot