Linux Alternative to Skype
Skype is one of the most popular Voice-Over Internet Protocol Web solutions for online video chat. Founded in 2003, Skype saw immediate growth and was soon purchased by eBay. Four years later Ebay sold its 65 percent stake in Skype to a group of investors for $2 billion. Soon after, Skype filed for Initial Public Offering.
Early in its development Skype was only available for Windows computers, and then for Macintosh. Now, in 2011 and for several years previous, Skype also operates on most Linux distributions. Search for it in the package manager provided by your distribution.
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Skype on Linux Operating System
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Early on, Skype was only available for Windows and Macintosh. In recent years, however, Skype has released several Linux versions. Now in 2011, Skype for Linux is in version 2.2 Beta, codenamed "Access Granted." It is a fitting name, and this version of Skype for Linux works exactly the same way that Skype for Windows or Macintosh does. Your username and password work the same on every operating system, and have the same result - crisp, clear video chat. The only caveat with Skype on Linux is a occasional hardware issue with built-in microphones and/or webcams, but that is more of a Linux problem than a Skype problem.
GoogleTalk, a Skype Alternative
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Google Talk is Google's submission into the world of video chat. As with Skype, Google's Video version of its longstanding chat box -- built into every Gmail account -- did not originally work with Linux. Today Google Talk works with Debian and Ubuntu derivatives (.DEB download), and with Fedora and OpenSUSE (.RPM download). Once installed, GoogleTalk instantly searches for your webcam and microphone, provides a test area and immediately allows you to experience video chat using your Gmail contact list. You can video chat with any of your friends who also have Gmail.
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Future of Video Chat
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Video chat has made big news with the advent of apps that work from within your cell phone. The iPhone 4 advertises "Face Time," its video chat app. Skype released its own app for smartphones in 2010, and Android phones will soon have access to their own GoogleTalk (with video) app. The emergence of table PCs of all sizes has increased the popularity, or at least increased the mobility, of video chat as well. Combined with the concurrent rise of customer-service chat popups on sales websites, it seems likely that popup video sales people is right around the corner.
Troubleshooting Skype on Linux
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The biggest complaint from users of Skype and GoogleTalk on Linux is the hardware issues. Both applications offer "Settings" panels that can be helpful, but if a built-in microphone or webcam does not work with your Linux distribution, you will have to purchase external hardware. For most Linux distributions, name brand hardware works best, but researching compatibility issues before purchase is a smart move.
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Resources
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