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Re: [LUG] Broadband and VoIP

 

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Adrian Midgley wrote:
| On Saturday 18 December 2004 13:45, martin.gautier@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
wrote:
|
| The business model of Skype so far as I can see is to make money
out of being
| the intermediary between the Internet and the Telco network.

They may have other ideas for revenue as well once they have a user
base established on their proprietary protocol. Didn't Kazaa get
lambasted as spyware?

| I think you'll find any system has the same intermediary business
model and
| organisation.

Yeap, but usually VOIP to VOIP is free, and VOIP to POTS is cheaper
than BT especially Internationally.

| Skype doesn't need dedicated hardware but you specified a non-PC
system -
| there must be a box by now, doesn't Cisco make one built into a phone?

Skype is not free - it might be gratis - but both the software and
the protocols are entirely proprietary with not even links into open
standards based protocols. I fear it risks becoming the Windows of
the new telecom world.

The company who back Asterisk http://www.asterisk.org/ do hardware
and cards, although I'm not sure they have targetted retail market
yet. Worth checking.
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