As of today, free skype out to Canada & US

[Brandon Sandrowicz]

With respect to Google, they've been doing a good job of keeping  
GTalk pretty open.  While the client itself isn't open, the protocol  
is just Jabbar/XMPP, and the protocol they bought for voice  
communications has source available (Berkley-style license) and the  
ability to use it (http://code.google.com/apis/talk/index.html).   
They also plan to support SIP in the future.  The only 'bad' part  
about GTalk is that the login connects to all other Google services,  
and there are privacy concerns to some extent.  So even if they never  
support SIP, it's not like another SIP-based client couldn't add XMPP  
and libjingle support to interoperate with GTalk, unlike Skype.

"4. Do you plan to support other real-time communication protocols?
Google Talk supports XMPP with the beta release. We plan to support  
SIP in a future release. Additionally, we will evaluate other  
protocols as appropriate, to continue to deliver on our commitment to  
open communications."

5. What protocols are used for voice calls?

Google Talk uses extensions to XMPP for voice signaling and peer-to- 
peer communication. Source code and documentation for these  
extensions is now available.

In addition, these extensions are in the process of being reviewed by  
the XMPP standards body as official enhancements (known as JEPs) to  
the standard. Note that the source code for Google Talk's current  
implementation of these extensions varies slightly from the proposed  
specs. Upon ratification of the specs, Google Talk (and the source  
code) will be updated to be in full compliance.

In the future, we plan to support SIP signaling as well."


On May 17, 2006, at 2:04 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:

> | From: Lennart Sorensen <lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org>
>
> | At least until skype has killed all competitors.
>
> Right.  Skype uses proprietary protocols as I understand it.
>
> It is much better for the consumer if open standards win.  Like SIP.
> Or IAX (not as widely adopted, but sufficiently open, I think).
>
> Most VoIP companies use SIP.  But some want to capture their
> customers.  Vonnage has tie-ins that use locked hardware -- the only
> kind you can get in mass-market stores.  I don't know what Google is
> doing.
>
> I've some experience with untied SIP.  Not too expensive and much
> healthier.  (I use Unlimitel.ca's a la carte products.)
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