I think you're doing a great job (Beeing a fan of "client software on the browser" I was wondering when something like this would turn up! :)
It's great beeing able to use this anywhere.
However... knowing it's a "pain" having to have multiple programs for the same purpose (as in MSN messenger, ICQ, Yahoo's, etc - causing Trillian and other "all-in-1" to appear)
Wouldn't it be in everyone's best interest to allow for "cross-VoIP-calling"?
For instance, being able to call a skype user from the "Switchboard" would be great, don't you think?
thanks! we're trying our best to make this the easiest VoIP around.
it would be cool except i personally have a problem with the way Skype works. Skype uses your computer as a relay server for other users on the network. i think this is a bit sneaky, especially since there is no way to turn it off.
i don't like my cpu and bandwidth being used except when it is for my use. i pay for it and don't particularly like contributing it for free to a company which makes large profits off of it.
besides Skype has a very strong grip on their network and i don't think they are going to be cooperating with any other VoIP client software. their power is in keeping control of their network and anything that subverts that is going to be stomped on hard.
that said i'm definitely planning on getting the texting portion of the switchboard to interoperate with ICQ, MSN, etc... for IM purposes.
you might also want to read the EULA for Skype. when you accept it you are basically giving permission for *any* third party to access your computer. that means anyone on the Skype network, and in fact, any business partner of Skype's as well... (remember Skype has grown out of Kazaa, not exactly a reputable bit of software).
yes we do have plans to do this, but to tell you the truth i don't see it as such a great feature.
i guess i look at it like this, you could have a service which would allow you to send your emails to the post office and then the post office would print them out and deliver these messages to people you know who don't use email, but it seems a bit marginal. i believe that pure VoIP, like email, will become a new communications medium in its own right, not replacing old phone systems, but cutting into old phone system usage the same way email cuts into mail usage.
i also like the freeness of pure VoIP. This will be lost if you want to tap into the old phone network.
You defenitly want to make interfaces to other voip systems
(Skype, WorldDialup , Go2call, etc.).
Doing so, calassical telephones worldwide can be called (at a very low cost), and subscribers of "theswitchboard.ca" can be called from regular telephones!
Also think about opening your souce code: You will be surprised of how many people will cooperate making this project better and better.
If chose Gpl-like license, a number of derivatives might come to life.
> yes we do have plans to do this, but to tell you the truth i
> don't see it as such a great feature.
>
> i guess i look at it like this, you could have a service which
> would allow you to send your emails to the post office and then
> the post office would print them out and deliver these messages
> to people you know who don't use email, but it seems a bit
> marginal. i believe that pure VoIP, like email, will become a
> new communications medium in its own right, not replacing old
> phone systems, but cutting into old phone system usage the same
> way email cuts into mail usage.
>
> i also like the freeness of pure VoIP. This will be lost if
> you want to tap into the old phone network.
>
> malcolm
If that means that you see no value in being able to communicate with the large part of humanity that doesn't have a computer, I would have to disagree. Some of us even have grandmothers who are frightened of electric toasters, let alone a PC, with whom we occassionally want to speak. A way to call POTS phones is definitely an advantage.
BTW, what minimum CPU speed do you reckon is required to make effective use of your system?
I believe the Vonages of this world have the VoIP to landline market wrapped up. They are far easier than any of the pure software implementations (plug a box into your broadband connection, then plug a real phone into that box), and then call grandma. Can't get any easier than that, and it is probably just as cheap as using one of the pure software implementations.
I'm aiming at people who want make pure VoIP calls. No interfacing with expensive, crusty old POTS technology, just pure Internet. As cheap as it can get, and probably better quality. I see the point of VoIP to POTS systems, but I'm aiming at computer system users.
In terms of CPU speed, if you use the "low quality" mode you should be able to get by with a 200MHz (possibly less) computer. That mode uses a low quality compression algorithm that is not as computationaly complex. I'd say that the lowest level computer that can run a browser and Java 1.4 should be fine for usage with The Switchboard on "low quality" mode. In fact if you want to get really ancient, you should be able to use your pentium 200Mhz and your 56K modem to make calls if you use the "low quality" and "low bandwidth" modes.
I was concerned about Skype because of comments such as your's, Malcolm:
't would be cool except i personally have a problem with the way Skype works. Skype uses your computer as a relay server for other users on the network. i think this is a bit sneaky, especially since there is no way to turn it off.'
But then I read an article by Bill Gough http://www.skypejournal.com/blog/archives/2005/11/five_reasons_not_to_block_skype_1.php whih seems to me to say that what you say is not necessariry the case.... (if you have a firewall etc in place....)
To be frank - not meaning to be offensive...I am wondering Malcolm if you are over-stating the case re Skype hi-jacking your CPU etc. Of course, I guess you coul say Gough has a vested interest as well, as he has books on Skype to sell.
I have no interest in either... Skype has the advantage of lots of features and a big hold on the market - whereas Switchboard is small and hopefully not sneaky (if what Skype critics say is true) ....
Anyway, my son in Japan has signed up for both...so I can use Switchboard with him at least...
For neophytes such as me, its hard to know who to believe... (eg Skype vs Switchboard vs other)
it may be true that you can escape being used as a supernode, as long as you make sure your computer is behind a NAT and a firewall, but i can't figure out why Bill Gough is so sure about this. last time i looked at the skype website there is no mention of whether or not being behind a NAT will protect you from being a supernode.
all i can say, with confidence, is the switchboard will *never* use anyones computer as a supernode, which is something that cannot be said about skype.
i feel that since skype is such a big player, and makes a fair amount of cash, it should provide the supernodes for relaying calls, instead of using their users to provide this function, especially since there is no way to turn off the supernode capabilities of a skype client.
here is a little discussion about this "pipe hijacking":
http://gigaom.com/2006/01/10/skype-the-bandwidth-hog/
at the least i think that this use of peoples computers is sneaky, especially for neophytes, who would probably not know what being a supernode means. in fact where i live being a supernode would actually incur a financial penalty, because all of the ISPs around here charge you by the gigabyte if you go over your bandwidth cap.
in the end i would have no problem with skype if they were up front about their use of others bandwidth (and cpu) resources and provided the means to disable the supernode "feature".
malcolm
oh, one other thing i forgot to mention about this supernode technique, is that when the supernode goes offline, which obviously can happen quite often, since it is someones personal PC, all of the calls that are being routed through the supernode are instantly dropped. since the switchboard uses dedicated relay servers for the few calls that can not be made directly, calls are very rarely dropped because of the relay server.
Thanks for this Malcolm. I know what is a firewall is...and have just checked out what NAT means.
So, you are saying, to be 'protected from' Skype, you need to be behind a NAT AND a firewall?? I am guessing most home computers are just behind a firewall>9and of course some don't even have that)
I have also heard that Skype uses a lot of CPU, but I just made some Skypeout calls (I am trying Skype, Gizmo and Switchboard) ...and the CPU usage was ~ 15%. It can spike up VERY briefly to 75%...but I think that was on start up. (I feel uneasy about Skype, so don't leave it on..)
Is Gizmo one of the bad guys as well?
One thing I like about Switchboard is that if you have access to a computer with a browser (and internet connection!) you basically have access to Switchboard. However, I have yet to try it...(waiting for my son in Japan to hook up)..
yes you would need to also be behind a NAT, because to use skype you would already have permitted it to bypass your firewall, or else it wouldn't work at all. once you have given it permission to bypass your firewall it can now accept and initiate connections from and to anywhere, and therefore would be a good canidate for supernodeness.
sorry, but i don't really know much about Gizmo. you'd have to do some searching on the Internet to see what people have to say about it.
yes the run anywhere, without installing is the whole reason for the switchboard's existence. we would have no interest in writing yet another internet phone if it did not have some uniqueness to it. our idea was to make the easiest to use internet phone, so it had to work in a browser and there had to be no manual download and installation procedure.
after you try it out please let us know what your experience is like. we are always looking for feedback.
blocking the switchboard from being used (against your wishes), is very easy. just block access to theswitchboard.ca domain, and then people on your LAN won't be able to download the applet.
i don't like my cpu and bandwidth accepting acclimated except if it is for my use. i pay for it and don't decidedly like accidental it for chargeless to a aggregation which makes ample profits off of it.
besides Skype has a actual able anchor on their arrangement and i don't anticipate they are traveling to be allied with any added VoIP applicant software. their ability is in befitting ascendancy of their arrangement and annihilation that subverts that is traveling to be stomped on hard.
that said i'm absolutely planning on accepting the texting allocation of the switchboard to interoperate with ICQ, MSN, etc... for IM purposes
