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In this post we will briefly analyze the Most Popular Linux VoIP (Voice and Video Messaging) Applications. Included are some that you probably heard about (Skype, Empathy), but also others that are not so well known (Asterisk, Ekiga, Qutecom, Kphone, Gizmo5 and Twinkle). |
Skype or Whatsapp
Skype or Whatsapp It is the most popular VoIP application with almost 500 million users. The reason Skype is so popular is that it was built on top of a standalone VoIP service, without the need for users to get their hands dirty with tedious SIP setups.
The Linux version is a bit behind the Windows version, but it works quite well. Some people, however, have some problems where Skype recognizes the video camera well for video calls.
Empathy
Empathy is an instant messaging client based on the Telepathy communications environment. Empathy supports XMPP / SIP audio and video conferencing available on devices. Additionally, it provides a common environment for applications to access instant messaging capabilities. It supports many common protocols including Jabber / XMPP, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, and Apple Bonjour / Rendezvous local network chat.
Empathy has been included by default in GNOME since version 2.24.
ekiga
ekiga, formerly called GnomeMeeting, is a free software application for video conferencing and IP telephony for GNOME. It uses H.323 compliant hardware or software (such as Microsoft Netmeeting) and is released under the GPL license. It is also available for Unix and Windows systems.
It enables all modern video conferencing features like smart provider support or phone calls from computer to phone.
For its correct operation you must have a SIP account, which can be created for free from ekiga.net. On the other hand, to be able to make calls to conventional telephones from the PC, you must have an account with an internet telephony server. The same program recommends the provider Diamondcard Worldwide Communication Service, although there are many others such as VoIPBuster. These services are not free, but the service provider is paid according to the destination phone according to their rates.
KDE Softphones
The following applications also work with the SIP and H.323 protocols and were designed for KDE: KPhone, Twinkle and Qutecom.
Asterisk
Asterisk is a free software program (under the GPL license) that provides functionalities of a telephone exchange (PBX). Like any PBX, you can connect a certain number of telephones to make calls with each other and even connect to a VoIP provider or to an ISDN both basic and primary.
Asterisk includes many features previously only available in expensive proprietary PBX systems such as voicemail, conferencing, IVR, automatic call distribution, and many more. Users can create new functionalities by writing a dialplan in the Asterisk scripting language or by adding modules written in the C language or any other programming language recognized by Linux.
To connect standard analog telephones, FXS or FXO electronic telephone cards manufactured by Digium or other vendors are required, since a simple modem is not enough to connect the server to an external line.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Asterisk is that it recognizes many VoIP protocols such as SIP, H.323, IAX and MGCP. Asterisk can interoperate with IP terminals acting as a registrar and as a gateway between the two.
Asterisk is beginning to be adopted in some corporate environments as a great low cost solution together with SER (Sip Express Router).
Try installing Cheese. It usually installs the WebCam drivers.
Hi. How do I get the driver for my web cam? It's Gigaware brand, but I can't make video calls with it. I hope you can help me, please.
Interesting article. I particularly use Linphone, which is in the ubuntu repositories. It is generic and although you have to configure it by hand, it is very simple. As a SIP provider I use 12voip.com (although I use it for a hundred in wind) because in its day it was the cheapest (free to landlines and very cheap to mobiles). Today I don't know how the market will be. A greeting.
Hello, I am interested in your comment because I am a 12voip user and I wanted to use it in linphone but I could configure nothing.
Can you recommend a way to do it?
Thank you
All very nice but Ubuntu still has problems with the microphones. I could never have a voice chat and I try with everything that comes along. Why is it sooooo complicated in this regard? This makes me want to go back to Windows but I breathe, relax, and think about the free software philosophy.
Skype in 10.04 does not recognize the mic, on the other hand in 9.10 it did not recognize the video, something for which the solution appeared, but for the issue of the mic nothing yet,
About the recognition of the devices I think it is the other way around, linux recognizes more devices than any w $, the problem is with the applications
Hello! First of all, download a program called Cheese. Run it and see if the webcam works for you. If so, Linux recognized your webcam well, the problem is Skype, which still has many problems to work well on Linux. For that reason, I recommend Empathy.
It's true, there are some webcam microphones that don't work. If the problem is a normal microphone ... surely you have an easy solution because in general they work well.
Did you try Empathy? I use it for video conferencing through GMAIL chat. It works out of 10. I think it is currently the best way to have video conferences. Skype, besides being really bad on Linux, you have to open it especially. Instead, almost all of your contacts check the mail and are available to chat through Google. At least that's my case ... a hug! Paul.
Change x Empathy. Check out my other comments to find the reasons.
Hug! Paul.
Very good ... very good
Thanks for the input
You're welcome! It was at your request Krafty! 🙂
Hug! Paul.
How I remove the noise from the audio and the voice becomes distorted.
I have SIP twincle with asterisk
Does anyone know of any VoIP server other than FreeSwitch or Asterisk? is that they let me set up a VoIP server at school but that is not any of the 2 mentioned above
Mumble or Jitsi are two good options.