VoIP: The communication revolution [1st post]

MosX

Ok, I'm in. Just got everything set up the way I like it in Linux.

Mr_Snuffle

Rikatix wrote:

handle: Rikatix

i downloaded it, but from what I understand, it isn't any different than, say, Ventrilo or Teamspeak.

Ventrilo and Teamspeak are more like IRC clients, Skype is more like a telephone replacement

Raere

"The FCC has unanimously approved the U.S. Justice Department's bid to expand CALEA to broadband and VoIP networks, according to reports from SecurityFocus and News.com. This means, following a mandatory public comment period, service providers will have to wire their networks for easy law enforcement surveillance, the way phone companies do now. The feds have wanted this for a long time."

Mr_Snuffle

Raere wrote:

"The FCC has unanimously approved the U.S. Justice Department's bid to expand CALEA to broadband and VoIP networks, according to reports from SecurityFocus and News.com. This means, following a mandatory public comment period, service providers will have to wire their networks for easy law enforcement surveillance, the way phone companies do now. The feds have wanted this for a long time."

I'm sure there will be apps out there that offer uber encyrption to keep out big brother

Mr_Snuffle

Does anyone know how secure the encryption is used in skype?

Raere

Mr_Snuffle wrote:

Does anyone know how secure the encryption is used in skype?

I'm going to guess very insecure.

Martman

Well, uh, I'm Martman321. 'n stuff.

Mr_Snuffle

Raere wrote:

Mr_Snuffle wrote:

Does anyone know how secure the encryption is used in skype?

I'm going to guess very insecure.

*shrug* If someone wants to listen in on me, more power to them I guess. If I want to organise any secret illegal dealings, I'm sure I could find some very secure VoIP app that they have little hope of decrypting

Bergy

BergyD

Red Machine D

Mr_Snuffle wrote:

Raere wrote:

Mr_Snuffle wrote:

Does anyone know how secure the encryption is used in skype?

I'm going to guess very insecure.

*shrug* If someone wants to listen in on me, more power to them I guess. If I want to organise any secret illegal dealings, I'm sure I could find some very secure VoIP app that they have little hope of decrypting

The most illegal thing we'd ever talk about are the the thing you can't talk about in G&T.

That and goatse.

Dog

Red Machine D wrote:

Mr_Snuffle wrote:

Raere wrote:

Mr_Snuffle wrote:

Does anyone know how secure the encryption is used in skype?

I'm going to guess very insecure.

*shrug* If someone wants to listen in on me, more power to them I guess. If I want to organise any secret illegal dealings, I'm sure I could find some very secure VoIP app that they have little hope of decrypting

The most illegal thing we'd ever talk about are the the thing you can't talk about in G&T.

That and goatse.

Actually skype uses 128-bit encryption, almost all VoIP uses 128-bit. so it is pretty sucure. and if anyone is caught pirating your conversations there is very little chance of them being able to peice the conversation together fully unless they use a packet sniffer to correctly arrange the packets and decode them. so it is pretty secure.

Royal W

So, I'm in...

Dog

Twisted Synapse wrote:

From the looks of it, this is awesome. I'll see about buying a headset sometime in the near future, at which point I will sign up for this.

yeah.... i'm definitely gonna have to invest in this also....

Rikatix

but what Im saying is, you can only talk to people who also have skype unless you pay for skypeout which uses standard phone rates, so how is this different?

ExoVark

This is actually perfect for me. I have a non-functional phoneline, so in order to use the real phone, I'd need to pay to have it repaired (since Verizon thinks I shorted out the phone line), pay for the basic phone service, and then pay for either a long distance carrier or a phone card. The vast majority of the time I spent on the phone was during long-distance calls anyway, so paying $0.025 per minute doesn't bother me that much.

Red Machine D

ExoVark wrote:

This is actually perfect for me. I have a non-functional phoneline, so in order to use the real phone, I'd need to pay to have it repaired (since Verizon thinks I shorted out the phone line), pay for the basic phone service, and then pay for either a long distance carrier or a phone card. The vast majority of the time I spent on the phone was during long-distance calls anyway, so paying $0.025 per minute doesn't bother me that much.

Not to mention that goes for phones in England too. :^:

dvsherman

my username for skype is dvsherman

note, i haven't been online in months, and i wasn't really known on these forums even back then. so i figured maybe it's time to say hello and such.

Rikatix

ok so skype is really cool, its clear too im wondering, does anyone use skypeout? can you tell uys anything? i looked at how much it costs but i think thats in Euros. so... ya.

ExoVark

Rikatix wrote:

ok so skype is really cool, its clear too im wondering, does anyone use skypeout? can you tell uys anything? i looked at how much it costs but i think thats in Euros. so... ya.

I used Skypeout to make several calls the other day. It connects to cellular networks no problem, though I haven't been able to reach the person I was trying to reach on a cellular network.

I talked to my dad for about an hour. There were a couple problems. The first time, about seven minutes through, Skype crashed. The second time, about 35 minutes through, my system got hard-locked.

Although they charge in Euros, Skype puts the charge through some international company who actually charges your card. Since they're international, I assume they convert currencies before placing the request to the bank. Skype got their money and I got my credits instantly. The credits apparently expire every six months, so I'm buying credits in the 10-Euro increments.

Monkey Ball Warrior

When I move away from Seattle, and thus from Speakeasy DSL (which is by far the best ISP I've ever had), I'll probably get Cable internet and Vonage. I mean, $15/month for a phone line is a good deal, and I'll never use more than 300 minutes anyway.

That's all I have to say about that.

manmaidslave

first off, skype is a closed VOIP network, kinda like yahoo/aim chat but with voice. there are VOIP open networks, meaning you can call anyone,not just your buddies. i have AT&T callvantage. it ONLY works on broadband. i suppose you could try dial-up but expect it to suck donkey balls. for 34.99 i can call unlimited local and long distance (i don't think that includes international). i have all sorts of neat features, all on the internet. i can actually start a conference of up to 8 people, forward my call to me and have up to 7 numbers inmy call forwarding. VOIP is new(ish) and is not perfect. good thing is, i keep my number, even if i move to another state. As long as i have broadband i have VOIP and i keep the same exact number.

Ikarus

Okay this is a little OT, but I haven't had a regular phone line in my house for about a year. If you have a cable modem, a router, and a desire for cheap phone service you should check out Vonage. Its a great VoIP service for your house. Works like a regular phone, you just hook the Cisco box up to the router and your phone and your set. I pay 30 bucks a month for unlimited long distance and local stuff. Also my mom lives in Italy so to call from the states...2 cents a minute. Great service. I play games and use the phone at the same time without issue.

Pleae note...I have no affiliation with this company. Just think they have a geat service that more should know about. Mods if this is too off-topic I apologize.

Jaster

Sweet deal, I'm in.

Skype name Jaster150.

incognito

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/04/internet.phones.surveil.ap/index.html

AH HAIL NAH

Rohan

I'll give it a go.

Sideswipe

Skype name: fastnoid

Rohan

I think one problem is not being embarrassed while you call a complete stranger! :lol:

Mr_Snuffle

Rohan wrote:

I think one problem is not being embarrassed while you call a complete stranger! :lol:

heh, it's not too bad, I've had a few regs all me now

RandomVince

Just a point to make, though it depends on your phone line companies.

If people start using VoIP more than regular calls, it won't necessarily mean no/cheaper phone bills since companies can still charge for the copper line rental (for DSL users at least). As normal calls become less profitable, line rentals will go up, guaranteed. At least in places where this structure applies.

delfonic

I'm up. Although none of you know me so I doubt I'll get any calls.

Skype name: delfonic

Tiemler

When I moved into my new place, the phone company wanted to charge me an activation fee and a monthly fee for local service that basically costs the same as a cell contract. So, I told them to shove it and got myself a cell phone, then hooked up with cable internet.

Vonage looked like a good deal, so I tried it, but the fucking phone adapter wasn't working. When I checked their forums, the other users basically said, "yup, sometimes it's all fucked-up like that," so I canceled and the reason I gave amounted to "get your shit together and I'll look you up."

It ticked me off that I was allowed to sign up for Vonage service at their website, but they'd only let me cancel over the phone. I know the reason why, it's because they want a chance to beg you not to pack your shit up and walk out on them.

Now, I don't think I even need any talk time besides what I use on my cell phone. Half the fuckers who call me are either a wrong number asking for some ho that used to live here, and probably sold weed outta here, or the Seattle Times trying to sign me up for some anachronistic, pointless industrial-age rag called a newspaper.

Bagel

If you don't mind me saying so, isn't ventrilo much better than skype? Sure you have to find someone with a server, or buy one yourself, but both of those are easy. I know probably 50 people each with a ventrilo server with a billion more slots than they ever use. Plus I think skype still only lets you have 4 people per call?

Magaras

go ahead and add me. My username is Magaras

TDL

pa-tdl

PikaPuff

VoIP: Watafu

but I probably won't answer XD

divine willy

I'm in. divinewilly.

Barcardi

i like advances in technology and all... but i doubt that big evil corperations will ever let something like this gain power/popularity before destroying/virusing/buying/corrupting/spywaring/whateverelseing it.

anyhow im gonna look into it. how does it work? the site on the first post does not work for me. edit: nm now it does

wait a min... this is brought to you by the people that made kazaa... i smell something and its probably not cool for my computer..?

ExoVark

Spybot hasn't broken Skype yet, so I'm assuming there isn't any spyware in Skype.

Cruzn15

P.S. Skype is no available for Mac.

TDL

And?