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skype-for-linux posts

Filed under: Linux, Open Source, VoIP

Skype for Linux to go open source... eventually

Skype 2.1 beta for Linux
Skype has been providing cheap and free VoIP, chat, and video conferencing features for Windows, Mac, and Linux for years. But just because a program works on Linux doesn't mean it's open source, and the Linux client for Skype has been just as closed a platform as the Mac and Windows versions. That's not to say that developers haven't been able to build third party add-ons and tweaks for Skype. But the source code hasn't been available, which limits the ability of the open source community to really contribute to Skype for Linux.

But it looks like that's going to change. This weekend Olivier Faurax contact Skype customer support about the availability of an RPM package for installing Skype on Mandriva Linux, and he received a reply that indicated that the Linux client for Skype would be made open source in the near future.

I was a bit skeptical, since customer service folks don't always know what's going on in the minds of management, so I sent a request for more information to Skype's corporate communications office, and it turns out that yes, Skype does plan to make its Linux client open source in the future.

It's not entirely clear when the shift will take place. But it should make it much easier for third party Linux developers to ensure that there are up to date packages for Skype for a variety of popular Linux distributions including Mandriva, Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Fedora, and others. It also means that we could start seeing third party applications built around Skype code or more powerful third party plugins for Skype that enhance the application's functionality.

You can read the official statement from Skype after the break.

Read more →

Filed under: Linux, VoIP, Beta

Skype 2.1 beta for Linux

Skype 2.1 for Linux
There's a new beta version of Skype for Linux. It's been nearly 2 years since Skype first added support for video to Skype 2.0 beta for Linux, and now that the Linux version of the popular VoIP client has hit 2.1 beta, Skype has cranked up the audio and video quality a bit. Now Skype for Linux uses the same SILK audio codec as the Windows and Mac clients, and packs support for high quality video.

Skype 2.1 beta for Linux also supports sending SMS messages, organizing contacts within contact groups, and a few chat enhancements. The update also brings support for Pulse Audio.

There's also a new panel icon that shows the number of missed events. Skype 2.1 is still beta software, so it might be rough around the edges. But if you're willing to put up with the occasional crash or dropped call, it's probably worth upgrading for the improved audio and video quality. Note that the image above was shot using a 0.3MP webcam and recorded over a Virtual Machine running Ubuntu 9.04, so there's a reason our screenshot doesn't exactly look stellar.

Skype 2.1 for Linux is available for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and OpenSUSE.

Filed under: Internet, Linux, Freeware, VoIP

Skype 2.0 for Linux drops beta tag

Skype 2.0 for LinuxSkype has released the final version of Skype 2.0 for Linux. The internet telephony application has been available as a public beta since November, but the latest release includes a ton of bug fixes and a few new features.

Skype 2.0's biggest feature is support for video calls, which means you can do pretty much anything with the Linux version of Skype that you can do with the PC or Mac clients. That includes making PC to PC phone calls or video calls for free, or PC to telephone calls for a fee.

Packages are available for Ubuntu, Debian, Xandros, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Mandriva, and CentOS.

[via Digg]

Filed under: Internet, Linux, VoIP

Skype 1.4 for Linux released

Skype 1.4 for LinuxSkype has released the gold version of Skype 1.4 for Linux. The latest version of Skype's VoIP client for Linux has been in alpha and beta testing for the last five months.

The new version, codenamed Skype Panacea includes a ton of new features and bug fixes, including:
  • New option in Sound Devices lets you enable/disable automatic mixer adjustment
  • Clickable links in chat topics
  • Chat toolbar with "add people," "send file(s)," "history," and "leave chat" buttons
  • Drag-and-drop files to chat input boxes to send files
  • Drag-and-drop users from contact list into chat box to send contacts
  • File transfer menu

Packages are available for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Xandros, OpenSuse, Mepis, and Mandriva Linux distributions.

[via Skype Journal]

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