SkypeEthics

Differences between revisions 14 and 28 (spanning 14 versions)
Revision 14 as of 2008-10-04 17:24:27
Size: 3277
Editor: 234
Comment: added recent china story
Revision 28 as of 2014-10-25 20:02:13
Size: 3884
Editor: 99-92-79-24
Comment: Edit was highly opninated, and inflamatory. Did not contain information, only negative opnion.
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
Line 4: Line 4:
Skype is not part of the Ubuntu distribution because it does not conform to the requirements of the Ubuntu Charter. This is primarily because source code is not available. A consequence of this is that it is impossible to understand the Skype communication protocol, which prevents competition and fractures the VoIP market, making it harder for people to communicate. Skype is not part of the Ubuntu distribution because it does not conform to the requirements of the Ubuntu Charter. This is primarily because source code is not available. A consequence of this is that it is impossible to understand the Skype communication protocol, which prevents competition and fractures the VoIP market, making it harder for people to communicate. As an example, Skype users can only talk with other Skype users because the Skype protocol is closed. But people using SIP clients like Ekiga can talk with anyone else using a SIP client (such as Wengophone or Twinkle) since SIP is a free protocol.
Line 10: Line 10:
 * [[http://live.gnome.org/Empathy|Empathy]] with full Video & Voice chat support, Google Talk compatible
 * [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Pidgin|Pidgin]]
Line 12: Line 14:
 * [[http://www.wengophone.com|Wengophone]].  * [[http://www.wengophone.com|Wengophone]] now known as Qutecom.
 * KPhone
Line 20: Line 23:
 * Skype already has discussed limiting the capabilities of Skype for non-Intel users (details [[http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=947|here]])
 * Skype is provided and runs natively only on the i386 architecture, excluding people using other architectures
 * Skype has deliberately limited capabilities of Skype for non-Intel users (details [[http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=947|here]])
 * Skype is provided and runs natively only on the x86 and x86_64 (32 and 64 bit), ARM (iPhone, Android phones) and Power PC (Mac with G4 or G5 processor) architectures, excluding people using other architectures
Line 32: Line 35:
Note that open VoIP protocols such as SIP [[http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3265.txt|may offer confidentiality]] and [[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060315-6388.html|may offer encryption]] it '''does not''' have to. Similarly VoIP providers may be [[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050808-5182.html|mandated to provide wiretap access]] anyway. Note that while open VoIP protocols such as SIP [[http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3265.txt|may offer confidentiality]] and [[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060315-6388.html|may offer encryption]], they '''do not''' have to. Similarly, VoIP providers may be [[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050808-5182.html|mandated to provide wiretap access]] anyway.
Line 35: Line 38:
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype#Issues  * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype#Privacy
 * http://www.f
sf.org/campaigns/priority.html#skypereplacement

Why is Skype not part of Ubuntu?

Skype is not part of the Ubuntu distribution because it does not conform to the requirements of the Ubuntu Charter. This is primarily because source code is not available. A consequence of this is that it is impossible to understand the Skype communication protocol, which prevents competition and fractures the VoIP market, making it harder for people to communicate. As an example, Skype users can only talk with other Skype users because the Skype protocol is closed. But people using SIP clients like Ekiga can talk with anyone else using a SIP client (such as Wengophone or Twinkle) since SIP is a free protocol.

Earlier versions of Skype (1.2 and older) might have issues with basic sound cards that do not support hardware mixing due to using the Open Sound System (OSS).

VoIP soft-phones included in Ubuntu

There are several alternative software based VoIP phones, that are 'free libre open', use 'open' protocols, and are included in the Ubuntu repositories. Among others, there are:

Ethics of Skype

Free Software

Ubuntu supports free software, which anyone can use, modify and improve, and open protocols, so that different software can interoperate. Skype's software and the Skype protocol are both entirely secret. Users may choose to avoid Skype because:

  • They will be forced to use Skype software as no alternatives will be available
  • Once they develop a Skype network of contacts, it will be harder to move to a free network
  • Skype could begin charging for their service at any time they choose
  • Skype has deliberately limited capabilities of Skype for non-Intel users (details here)

  • Skype is provided and runs natively only on the x86 and x86_64 (32 and 64 bit), ARM (iPhone, Android phones) and Power PC (Mac with G4 or G5 processor) architectures, excluding people using other architectures

Free speech

Users may choose to avoid Skype because they have been engaged in censorship in China. Chinese users and users in certain countries may fear that along with censorship, they will suffer disclosure of their private conversations to other people, authorities or governments. Please see the following links for more information:

Note that while open VoIP protocols such as SIP may offer confidentiality and may offer encryption, they do not have to. Similarly, VoIP providers may be mandated to provide wiretap access anyway.

See also

CategoryEthics

SkypeEthics (last edited 2014-10-25 20:02:13 by 99-92-79-24)