Skype Public Beta (VoIP) for Mac OS X available

[MacBytes]

Category: 3rd Party Software
Link: Skype Public Beta (VoIP) for Mac OS X available (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20040831101303)
Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)

Approved by Mudbug

[OutThere]

This could be a very good thing if it eventually gets positioned next to the PC version...:)

[Keynoteuser]

The interesting thing is, this is just an audio chat program for the most part. A client was asking about a Mac version last week. When she described what she wanted and what her friend in Greece had, it sounded like iChat AV.

[davecuse]

Yea, I don't really understand why this was ever seen as such a big threat to phone companies... I mean there are far better applications, with much great acceptance that have been on the market for years. AIM has had this ability for quite some time, and iChat makes it all the easier.

[bobpensik]

I downloaded this program and it is great!

I have tried tirelessly to get iChat and AIM 5.5 to Audio and even Video chat but i just can't seem to do it! So when this rolled around i was really happy, i finally have an EASY way to Audio chat with my gf on her PC!

[aswitcher]

I downloaded this program and it is great!

I have tried tirelessly to get iChat and AIM 5.5 to Audio and even Video chat but i just can't seem to do it! So when this rolled around i was really happy, i finally have an EASY way to Audio chat with my gf on her PC!


What encryption options does it offer?

[space2go]

What encryption options does it offer?

According to their FAQ (scroll down to the end) (http://www.skype.com/help_faq.html) they use AES256 which is deemed secure for most uses at the moment.
But as it is a closed source program, one can't say wether they actually use AES or wether it is used correctly (even strong ciphers can be used in a way that is most insecure).

It probably will hold against threats of the little-sibling class but I'm not going to guarantee that. ;)

[Nermal]

Yea, I don't really understand why this was ever seen as such a big threat to phone companies... I mean there are far better applications, with much great acceptance that have been on the market for years. AIM has had this ability for quite some time, and iChat makes it all the easier.

But can AIM or iChat call regular phones like Skype can?

[davecuse]

But can AIM or iChat call regular phones like Skype can?

As I understood it, Skype can't either... On their site it says "Free unlimited worldwide phone calls to other Skype users". http://skype.com/skype.html

[space2go]

As I understood it, Skype can't either... On their site it says "Free unlimited worldwide phone calls to other Skype users". http://skype.com/skype.html

http://skype.com/skypeout.html

[davecuse]

So you have to pay for calls, I guess I just don't see the advantage of Skype. It's free if you want to chat with another Skype user, just like AIM (which has many many more users). If you want to call a real phone you have to pay, and talk into your computer. I'll stick to VoIP, Vonage has $30 a month for unlimited calling, that's not too shabby, plus you have a phone number and get to use a real phone.

[Guntis]

So you have to pay for calls, I guess I just don't see the advantage of Skype. It's free if you want to chat with another Skype user, just like AIM (which has many many more users). If you want to call a real phone you have to pay, and talk into your computer. I'll stick to VoIP, Vonage has $30 a month for unlimited calling, that's not too shabby, plus you have a phone number and get to use a real phone.

The problem with iChat and AIM is theat they simply don't work together, at least for me. I don't have video camera, and unless one of both parties have it, there is no way to make audio chat... So here Skype comes in with its zero configuration and microphone-only option. Plug in mic or use PowerBook's built-in mic and you can chat with other Mac or Windows pals.

[Nermal]

So you have to pay for calls, I guess I just don't see the advantage of Skype. It's free if you want to chat with another Skype user, just like AIM (which has many many more users). If you want to call a real phone you have to pay, and talk into your computer. I'll stick to VoIP, Vonage has $30 a month for unlimited calling, that's not too shabby, plus you have a phone number and get to use a real phone.

But I believe you have to live in the US to use Vonage. I could be wrong though.

[davecuse]

Very true, it suits my needs well though as I normally do not call anyone outside of the states.

[bbarnhart]

I've got it running although I've not got anyone to talk too. Someone ring me up. My username is brianbarnhart.

I have gone through the "Find" feature and I've called a few people at random and it sound great. I did that a few nights ago and I didn't have a powered microphone (I just listened). I went out and bought a Griffin iMic and it works fine so now I'm ready to go.