I am disappointed that the Linux users still do not have the same basic functionalities in their software as the Windows users have. As Linux is expanding its user base, would it not be a good idea to try and keep those users that have helped Skype become as big as it is and offer them these basic services.

I have read several other users' opinions in the other forums but see that Skype is not keeping up with the trend towards Linux. This is surely loosing you users as they search for other softwares that can give them the capabilities of a very good software you have already crerated (i.e. the Windows version). Their friends and families will also be encouraged to use other softwares as will some corporate users, giving the smaller companies a chance to really compete. It's your politics, but I always believed that once you have satisfied customers, questions should be asked if you start to loose them.

Without at least the video capability (although others say call forwarding, other PC speaker etc.) it does put the Linux software in a different ball park from its Windows equivalent.

Just food for thought.

Hi -- as we noted in the release notes for 1.4, we are going to focus on video as soon as this release is stabalised, and as for this alpha, I think things are going pretty well.

Thanks for the food, but I've eaten earlier.

Andrew.

You're probably really bored of hearing it, but I'd also love to see video chat on Skype for Linux. Hope you can make it happen sooner rather than later.

Cheers, Tom

Just for a second I almost thought you tried to threaten me.

Like Andy, I've just eaten, thank you. Linux version will be very soon on par with Windows and Mac OS versions. As for the bloated bells and whistles nobody even know how to use yet - no, we're not striving to put them in before we make basic and required functionality working.

Hope this suits you.

It would be really nice to have visioconference on this release of skype since many linux users are waiting for it. I did use skype under windows os for a while, and when I did change to linux os I did miss a lot the visioconference, I like the new look of skype for linux, it does show the difference between linux and windows.

Maybe I won't say anything new, but I agree - Skype on Linux should have ability to videoconference as well as Windows one. When I started Skype on this OS first time I thought, that Skype don't treat Linux seriously. I'm very happy it's changing

I think the skype API for linux should also be upgrade.

Thanks for the good work guys!!! ...even if I would like to see video working soon. It's the main reason why I still have to start windows sometimes.

Is there any milestone to have Video on an alpha release?

Thats a good question. Is there an approximate deadline for including video capabilities in Skype or the level of importance that video is receiving.

As noted before, after Skype 1.4 has settled into beta, our primary focus will be on video for the next major release.

Andrew.

While nothing could have been further from the truth. Anyone assuming that an argument, linking together established working mechanisms of markets, is something of a threat should at the very least not have anything to do with choosing business strategies (which raises the question why you would admit to even a second's lapse of judgement -- I guess we should be grateful for the openness of the development process... ).

Browsing Internet forums and mailing lists, it's not difficult to find people engaging in discussions about alternatives to Skype. I recently made contact with someone who I hoped might be able to provide insight into my problems with Skype 1.4. He wasn't able to help, but we started discussing good alternatives in the VoIP market. Both of us have already tried pretty much everything. Interested in video, he will most likely move to Ekiga once it is stable enough for Windows ... others will too.

This isn't a threat any more than the weatherman's predictions.


And like Andy, you disrespectfully dismiss his arguments.


This is all that you would have had to say. Granted, it is categorically different from Ketje's impression, but I guess only time will tell whose is more accurate.

If you check out the latest version of the Alpha you'll find the API has been upgraded. You can do newer things with this API such as SMS. Try it out and tell us what you think!

- Ryan.

Andrew,
I hear what you are saying, but that doesn't help with any deadlines. I'm not meaning to sound derogatory with this but that was a very vague answer. What are we talking here? 2 Weeks, a month, 2 months, end of the year until the Beta is stable enough to start on video.

I can appreciate that the development team is relatively new and that you are all working hard, but taking in account the history of Skype for Linux development at the moment "soon" equates to about 6 - 8 months in my books before we have anything remotely resembling video capability. It's the impression that us, the users, get. Now 6-8 months for me, out of context of Skype for Linux history, is a looong time to wait.

So I ask again, please is it possible to get a date that you guys are even hoping to have video capability open for testing in Skype? I am even willing to become a beta tester if it will help.

Am I the only one wondering why people would want PC Speaker functionality?
I do my best to turn the darn thing off!

No, there is no date set.

We're releasing builds publically every few weeks, so just hang in there. You can see things progressing now.

Andrew.

I would like to have the incoming ring routed to the PC speaker so I didn't have to have my headphones/speakers on all the time Just In Case. It was an option in version 0.9x but never actually worked.

Having said that, it's fairly academic as far as I'm concerned. I got a PSTN line and stopped using SkypeIn/Out last year, during the period when Linux development had stalled and Skype staff weren't responding to forum posts. I still think Skype has a lot of potential, so I'll be interested to hear if the video experiment works.