Hi,
I have used skype where one end was behind a dial up. As the call
progressed, the latency got longer and longer. I measured 20 seconds
before the remote endpoint replied. This is a known issue with skype.
Initially, I thought my end would be ok 128kbits download, but the upload
limit is much less - and this may have been the problem...
However, for the sake of the discussion, let us assume both ends have big
fat pipes.
Skype (and many other voip services) fail for 111 calls when the power
goes out. This is one reason why the voip industry argues it is not a
telco, and should be exempt the standard telco taxes etc.
====
I did have a look(google) for the privacy issues associated with skype.
The major one I found was that anyone could call you. True, but anyone can
call you now on your home phone line.
Current pots lines can be bugged/listened in to with ease. It is somewhat
harder to listen into a skype conversation (the voice data is encrypted).
Thus, perhaps skype has better privacy?
What happens when all the criminals do there conversations with skype?
How do the police listen in to the conversation?
===============================
Craig Southeren (key founder of openh323 project) commented that voip
based on the PC is dead. Having some experience in voip, I have to conclude
he is right.
*Too many times the PC has something done to it (new software etc) and it
is temporarily unavailable. Murphy says that you need to make a 111 call
at that time.
*a download etc is happening at the same time - voice quality drops.
*PCs are fundamentally unreliable. Compare, if you will, the reliability
of your VCR (say) and the PC.
The VCR has an embedded CPU and is almost 100% reliable.
when did your vcr last crash ?
The level of reliability for your pc (while high) is not quite as high.
Ah, you argue, but I have my cellphone!!!!!!!
yes, you can argue this.
In that case, the comparison is not strictly valid.
I thought we were comparing a voip system (such as skype) with what pots
provides.
If we include cell phones, the comparison becomes:
voip system + cell phone compared with what pots provides.
======================
Badluck if both you and the partner are out at the movies, and the
babysitter has a serious problem.
she/he goes to the computer and attempts to make an emergency call.
yeah right.
you better pray your baby sitter has a cell phone.
Derek.
==================================================================
On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, Volker Kuhlmann wrote:
> > Well, that would be VOIP (voice over IP). Look for Skype, Vonage,
> > Net2Phone and their ilk.
>
> 2 problems with that:
>
> 1) Reliability and versatility. Can you really call all numbers? POTS is
> rock-solid.
>
> 2) You cross your fingers that your child never falls through a glass
> door and you have to call 111.
>
> Btw skype may be popular but has serious privacy issues, though I can't
> remember where the link is listing it up in detail.
>
> Getting rid of your pots and only keeping adsl is a moot point anyway,
> as telescum will make damn sure you can't.
>
> Volker
>
>
--
Derek Smithies Ph.D. This PC runs pine on linux for
email
IndraNet Technologies Ltd. If you find a virus apparently
from me, it has
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] forged the e-mail headers on
someone else's machine
ph +64 3 365 6485 Please do not notify me when
(apparently) receiving a
Web: http://www.indranet-technologies.com/ windows virus from me......
