Do you think MS will ever nix Skype for Linux?

[helloimustbegoing]

I know this is a question without an answer, but what does everyone think of the possibility of Microsoft pulling the plug of Skype for Linux? I mean, I just can't see MS continuing to make Skype (or anything else) available for Linux. This concern is the main reason why I went with Windows 8.1 on a new computer for my wife.

[z31fanatic]

Why would they nix it? There is no sign of them doing that.
If Linux had as market share as big as MacOS, I could see MS making Office for Linux too.

[Pierre]

although they may not pull the plug, so to speak,
the 'nix version may not be the most up-to-date version.

[Chiefahol]

If they stopped offering support, people would just wine it.

[Fred Barclay]

I almost thought you said "Do you think MS will ever *nix Skype for Linux?" I've been staring at a computer screen to long.

Like the others said, I doubt it. For one, there's always Wine, POL, or Crossover. Also, though MS is still not Linux-friendly, they seem a bit less hostile at this time than they historically have, IMHO. Why would they pull the plug now?

[phd21]

I know this is a question without an answer, but what does everyone think of the possibility of Microsoft pulling the plug of Skype for Linux? I mean, I just can't see MS continuing to make Skype (or anything else) available for Linux. This concern is the main reason why I went with Windows 8.1 on a new computer for my wife.

HI helloimustbegoing, and anyone else regarding Skype,

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well...

I think Skype is a really good program and it works well on Linux Mint, at least on my machine. But, Honestly, who cares if they did "pull the plug" on its Linux compatibility (I would hope they would not)? There are so many ways to communicate using video and or audio (voice) (and text messaging) for free on any computer to anyone anywhere as long as they are connected to the internet using Linux, or any other computer operating system, that are just as good or better than Skype. All you need is a computer, a reasonably fast internet connection (for video), even slower internet connections can usually handle voice audio pretty well, a microphone and speakers, or a headset with a microphone, and or a web cam with a microphone, and your ready to communicate for free, worldwide. Some of the applications can also do group video/audio chat with multiple people at the same time, like "conference calling".

For instance, here are some free alternatives to Skype that work well on Linux, Ms Windows, & Mac (cross platform); so, everyone you know, or would want to video or audio (voice) chat with could use too:

1. a.) Google Mail - make free voice and video chat calls using the Google Hangouts plug-in (Google Talk plug-in)
https://hangouts.google.com/

1. b.) Google Voice - Free phone number and calls and text to US and Canada.
https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115061?hl=en

https://support.google.com/chat/answer/159499?hl=en

1. c.) Connect a regular phone (and fax) to the internet and use Google Voice for free voice calling, or faxing.
Obihai OBi200 VoIP Phone Adapter, T.38 Fax
http://www.amazon.com/OBi200-VoIP-Phone ... ds=obi+200

2. FireFox has a built-in video and voice chat through their "Hello" Smiley icon in your toolbar. Free communication worldwide.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/hello/


3. There are some "Tox" video and voice applications which provide free worldwide communication, and are more secure than Skype, like "qTox" and "uTox". Some say they like "qtox" more. I have both installed for testing.
http://www.eurobytes.nl/tutorials/tox-t ... eplacement

"The Future of Instant Messaging - Tox is a Free Software project whose goal is to free users from the grip of Proprietary instant messengers like Skype"

"Many governments are implementing monitoring programmes of personal correspondence (including Skype). uTox - simple and convenient program for confidential communication with friends and loved ones."

Wikipedia - Tox is a free and open-source, peer-to-peer, encrypted instant messaging and video calling protocol. The stated goal of the project is to provide secure yet easily accessible communication for everyone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tox_%28protocol%29

3. a.) "uTox "
http://mintguide.org/internet/336-utox- ... linux.html

To install "uTox" using the PPA method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:v-2e/tox
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install utox


3. b.) "qTox" download page - Click under Linux to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version for your system, create a "qTox" folder in your "/home" folder, save or move the file to your "qTox" folder, and extract the archive file (right click, extract here, autodetect sub-folder). To run it, double click the "qtox" file, or create a new desktop shortcut to the file (right click file, copy, then right click your desktop, and paste).
https://github.com/tux3/qTox


3. c.) Various Tox clients
https://wiki.tox.chat/doku.php?id=clients

3. d.) Register your Tox ID in link below (if you want to) - Click your login name to see your Tox ID, click picture to change your Avatar.
http://register.utox.org/


4. And, there are many more video and audio chat programs (clients) available ...
"Ekiga" (I have this installed too), Linphone", "Jitsi", etc...
http://www.ekiga.org/

Search Google for "Linux Skype alternative 2015", see link below.
https://www.google.com/webhp?ie=utf-8&o ... ative+2015

Beyond Skype: 5 Apps You Didn't Know You Wanted - smallbusinesscomputing.com
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/b ... anted.html

Hope this helps ...

[1.618]

I made a point of deleting everything Skype from my pc, hate that app so much since M$ took over, I will never use it so i really couldn't care what M$ do with it...

Skype started as an open source project, I'm sure the community could just knock up another and migrate over.

[Schultz]

Looks like this may be slowly happening. Regarding the current Skype/Linux scare:

But fans of the old Qt-based VoIP app shouldn’t get too complacent.

“As we move forward some functions may stop working correctly on these older builds”, the rep adds, saying that the company “may have to retire those builds“ in the near future.

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/02/skyp ... mail-error

[phd21]

Hi "Schultz",

This is a really old post you replied to.

I know this should be common knowledge by now, but "Skype" is not a secure means of communication. Although it works well in Linux (the one in the Software Manager or Synaptic Package Manager (SPM)), and other "platforms", it is not secure. There are however secure multi-messaging applications (text, voice, video) that are available. There are newer posts with newer installation instructions as well for various secure messaging applications in this forum, if you search for them.

I highly recommend using a "Tox" client, like "qTox" (QTox) or "uTox" (and other Tox client applications for smart phones, etc...) which work really well and are secure, or one or more of the other secure messaging applications. All the Tox applications can communicate with each other securely, for example I use QTox (love it) and can easily communicate over the secure "Tox" network with users using whatever Tox application, like "qTox" (Linux, MS Win, Mac osX), "uTox" (Linux, MS Win, Mac osX, Android), Antidote (iPhone, iPad, iOS), Antox or uTox for Android phones and tablets, etc...
https://tox.chat/clients.html

For current Linux Skype users, I would not recommend downloading and installing or using their new "Alpha" version unless you want to help them test it, if you do video calling or use some other features, because this "Alpha" version does not do video calling unless the people you communicate with are using the same version of Skype, and does not have some other features yet.

Video calling is only available if you're both on these platforms. Only audio calling is currently enabled between ....
https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA3465 ... inux-alpha

Hope this helps ...

[Schultz]

phd21 wrote:
Hi "Schultz",

This is a really old post you replied to.

Hi phd21: The reason I posted on this old thread is because, in a former life (i.e., before the forum hack) I was helloimustbegoing, the OP of this thread!