Re: [GnomeMeeting-list] vanilla calls via Microtelco?

[Craig Southeren <craigs postincrement com>]

Joshua,

You need the G.723.1 codec because that is the codec used by the
MicroTelco carriers. This is the most common codec used by PSTN
termination providers, and it is patented, so there are no Open Source
implementations.

The Quickphone software client offered by Quicknet includes a licensed
G.723.1 code implementation, much like NetMeeting. Quicknet can afford
to give this codec away because they make money from people making calls
through their system.

A G.723.1 codec implementation for Linux costs $15,000USD plus $10 per
license (I can confirm this is a hard price as I have investigated this
recently). Until someone spends this money, there will not be a Linux
software client for MicroTelco.

Alternatively, you can find a carrier that supports GSM or Speex.

   Craig

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 13:29:53 +0530
Joshua N Pritikin <jpritikin pobox com> wrote:

> I'm confused by FAQ entry 2.6: "Yes, you can do PC-to-Phone with
> MicroTelco Internet calling service from Quicknet. Quicknet hardware
> and GnomeMeeting 0.96 are required."
> 
> Let us assume that I don't care about sound quality too much.  Why the
> requirement for Quicknet hardware?  Quicknet themselves are offering a
> Windows XP client "QuickPhone" which works with a vanilla soundcard (no
> special hardware required).
> 
> Baffled, I asked quicknet about it.  I got an email from Dennis
> McDermott <dmcdermott quicknet net> explaining that the G.723.1
> license costs $75,000 USD plus development time.  OK, but why do I
> need a super-duper codec?  GSM or SpeexNarrow is good enough for me.
> And almost all the development is already done; What is gnomemeeting?
> 
> I can make calls with a vanilla soundcard & QuickPhone on Windows XP.
> Why can't I do the same using Linux?
> 
> -- 
> A new cognitive theory of emotion, http://openheartlogic.org


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