Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and I
spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and friends
all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from May this
year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly with seems to
have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I
could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to use as
a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be able
to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
Thanks,
Nick
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
On 03/03/2025 18:25, Nick Odell wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
I have an iphone but never use facetime.
That said, there are plenty of "Facetime for Beginners" videos on
YouTube. e.g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-aU57ScDws
if you can ignore the irritating voice.
Re buying an iphone: I bought a second-hand superseded model.
i.e. When the latest model was the 14, I bought a used 12[1] but it
still runs the latest version of iOS and does all (and far more) than I
need.
On the whole, Apple seem reasonably good about not forcing obsolescence
onto earlier models.
[1] iPhones come in different flavours with more or less memory - priced accordingly (you can't just install an SD card in an iPhone), but the
basic models should be fine for your porpoises.
<https://www.howtogeek.com/738902/how-to-use-facetime-for-windows/>
Cheers
Dave R
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years
On 03/03/2025 06:44 PM, David wrote:
<https://www.howtogeek.com/738902/how-to-use-facetime-for-windows/>
Cheers
Dave R
FaceTime on Windows?
I didn't know that.
Teletext news reports that MS offers "Teams" (WTMB) as a substitute.
JNugent wrote:Pretty sure it can be free, provided you only want to chat/talk/vidcall
Teletext news reports that MS offers "Teams" (WTMB) as a substitute.
The kicker is there is some sort of monthly fee, as well as a PAYG fee.
And that's what this transition is really about, is rent-seeking.
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> wrote in news:4orbsjp0o2dvrr19fdd4cu6a1muhr3q1ip@4ax.com:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
A bit niche but there's always Telegram, free, secure, private, available
for phone or desktop and supports video calling:
https://telegram.org/
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
On Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:25:06 +0000, Nick Odell wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and I
spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and friends
all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from May this
year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly with seems to
have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I
could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so I'm
wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to use as
a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using it
before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be able
to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
Thanks,
Nick
<https://www.howtogeek.com/738902/how-to-use-facetime-for-windows/>
On 03/03/2025 18:25, Nick Odell wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
I have an iphone but never use facetime.
That said, there are plenty of "Facetime for Beginners" videos on
YouTube. e.g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-aU57ScDws
if you can ignore the irritating voice.
Re buying an iphone: I bought a second-hand superseded model.
i.e. When the latest model was the 14, I bought a used 12[1] but it
still runs the latest version of iOS and does all (and far more) than I
need.
On the whole, Apple seem reasonably good about not forcing obsolescence
onto earlier models.
[1] iPhones come in different flavours with more or less memory - priced >accordingly (you can't just install an SD card in an iPhone), but the
basic models should be fine for your porpoises.
On 03/03/2025 06:48 PM, Sam Plusnet wrote:
On 03/03/2025 18:25, Nick Odell wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
I have an iphone but never use facetime.
That said, there are plenty of "Facetime for Beginners" videos on
YouTube. e.g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-aU57ScDws
if you can ignore the irritating voice.
Re buying an iphone: I bought a second-hand superseded model.
i.e. When the latest model was the 14, I bought a used 12[1] but it
still runs the latest version of iOS and does all (and far more) than I
need.
On the whole, Apple seem reasonably good about not forcing obsolescence
onto earlier models.
[1] iPhones come in different flavours with more or less memory - priced
accordingly (you can't just install an SD card in an iPhone), but the
basic models should be fine for your porpoises.
I think s/h iPads tend to be cheaper still.
Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
If everyone you might talk to uses an iPhone, Facetime would work. But many >countries have a favourite app - eg WhatsApp is very popular. You may find >your correspondents all use WA because everyone else they know does. That >way you aren't that strange person who uses a different app to everyone
else.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If you use another app like WhatsApp, an Android phone might be option.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
See this table of which iPhone supports which OS: >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_version_history#Hardware_support
For security reasons, avoid buying an iPhone which won't run the latest OS. >You get ~6-7 years of support from launch, so if you buy a version that's a >few years old you can guess roughly how long of support you'd get.
Once an iPhone has been dropped from the current OS, there can be limited >updates for serious security flaws for a couple of years, but others aren't >covered.
If you don't care about security an unsupported OS may work, but at some >point older devices will stop working. Apple says: >https://support.apple.com/en-us/105088
"1. You can use FaceTime on any of these devices on Wi-Fi: iPhone 4 or >later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad 2 or later, iPad mini (all models), and >iPod touch 4th generation or later (only iPod touch 5th generation or later >support FaceTime audio calling).
2. With a cellular data plan, you can also use FaceTime without Wi-Fi on
any of these devices: iPhone 4s or later, iPad Pro (all models), and iPad >(3rd generation or later)."
which is quite a long way. There were rumours they would drop some older >models in 2023, but it seems they didn't.
(WhatsApp won't work on older than iOS 15, which is a much newer cutoff)
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
Another option for Facetime would be a Mac or an iPad, if those are more >useful for you.
On 03/03/2025 06:25 PM, Nick Odell wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
Teletext news reports that MS offers "Teams" (WTMB) as a substitute.
Facetime is excellent (we use it several times a week with relatives in
the USA), but it is only available, as I understand it, on Apple
equipment (whether iPhone, iPad or something like a MacBook).
There's always FaceBook Messenger of course, for audio or video.
Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> wrote in >news:4orbsjp0o2dvrr19fdd4cu6a1muhr3q1ip@4ax.com:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
A bit niche but there's always Telegram, free, secure, private, available
for phone or desktop and supports video calling:
https://telegram.org/
On Mon, 3 Mar 2025 18:48:26 +0000, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
On 03/03/2025 18:25, Nick Odell wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
If it wasn't already obvious from what I've written, I know nothing
about Apple. Will any old iPhone run Facetime? If not, what's the
minimum generation iPhone I ought to be looking for for - say - at
least a couple of years use and how long could I expect to keep using
it before Apple deprecates it?
I'm really not bothered about anything else an iPhone can or can't do.
All my other cameras and comms stuff are working fine. Perhaps in time
I'll become fascinated by Apple stuff but for now I just want to be
able to chat with Facetime.
All advice welcome.
I have an iphone but never use facetime.
That said, there are plenty of "Facetime for Beginners" videos on
YouTube. e.g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-aU57ScDws
if you can ignore the irritating voice.
Re buying an iphone: I bought a second-hand superseded model.
i.e. When the latest model was the 14, I bought a used 12[1] but it
still runs the latest version of iOS and does all (and far more) than I
need.
On the whole, Apple seem reasonably good about not forcing obsolescence
onto earlier models.
[1] iPhones come in different flavours with more or less memory - priced
accordingly (you can't just install an SD card in an iPhone), but the
basic models should be fine for your porpoises.
Ta for that. I think the latest version is 16 but your 12 is still
running along okay, yes?
On Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:22:50 GMT, fred <not@for.mail> wrote:
A bit niche but there's always Telegram, free, secure, private,
available for phone or desktop and supports video calling:
https://telegram.org/
That might be fun to try but, like the "Teams" thing, none of my
regular contacts use it AFAIK and my aim is to try and move from Skype
to something the others already use.
But, with the exception of the state-of-the-art 386DX I once had built
for me at an extortionate cost, I've tended to buy new, cheaper, lower
spec machines because I just don't need massive capability for the
things that I do. Buying a new Mac at an eye-watering price is really
not for me but I suppose the trick is to know how old is too old with
those machines and buy one which will still function properly for a
while and still get essential updates etc.
On Mon, 3 Mar 2025 21:19:31 +0000, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:
Nick Odell wrote:<snip>
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years
Spent far too long tonight trying to get a Teams business account to
speak with a personal Skype account ... they'd do text chat ok, but no
voice calling, and if one invited the other to a meeting, the other
couldn't allow them entry from the lobby ... gave up and used Zoom.
I won't touch WhatsApp or FB Messenger with a bargepole.
To John and Andy:
Mark Zuckerberg and I had a big falling out in 2016 (okay so
Zuckerberg won't have even noticed, but I did.) So I won't be using
Meta products anytime soon. But thanks for mentioning them anyway.
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
John Rumm <see.my.signature@nowhere.null> wrote:
You could try Signal - developed by the original developer of whatsapp
as a privacy focussed messaging app:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Foundation
I too won't use any Meta apps. I use Signal, it works fine.
I need to start looking at Signal too.
It seems ridiculous that there's no interoperable standard for video
calling as there is for phone calls, email, or even "snail" mail.
John Rumm <see.my.signature@nowhere.null> wrote:
You could try Signal - developed by the original developer of whatsapp
as a privacy focussed messaging app:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Foundation
I too won't use any Meta apps. I use Signal, it works fine.
On 6 Mar 2025 at 11:48:10 GMT, "Colin Macleod" <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid>
wrote:
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
John Rumm <see.my.signature@nowhere.null> wrote:
You could try Signal - developed by the original developer of whatsapp >>> as a privacy focussed messaging app:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Foundation
I too won't use any Meta apps. I use Signal, it works fine.
I need to start looking at Signal too.
It seems ridiculous that there's no interoperable standard for video calling as there is for phone calls, email, or even "snail" mail.
Giggle begs to differ:
RFC 3551:
This RFC defines the RTP profile for audio and video conferences with minimal control, which is a foundational document for real-time multimedia conferencing.
RFC 7742:
This RFC outlines WebRTC video processing and codec requirements, providing guidance for implementing video functionality in web browsers and applications.
RFC 4353:
This RFC describes a framework for conferencing with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which is a signaling protocol used to set up and manage multimedia sessions.
RFC 7478:
This RFC describes Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) use cases and requirements, which is a project for real-time communication over the web.
and others.
Whether any of these are actually used, I know not.
Tim Streater <tim@streater.me.uk> wrote:
On 6 Mar 2025 at 11:48:10 GMT, "Colin Macleod" <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid>
wrote:
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
John Rumm <see.my.signature@nowhere.null> wrote:
You could try Signal - developed by the original developer of whatsapp >>>>> as a privacy focussed messaging app:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Foundation
I too won't use any Meta apps. I use Signal, it works fine.
I need to start looking at Signal too.
It seems ridiculous that there's no interoperable standard for video
calling as there is for phone calls, email, or even "snail" mail.
Giggle begs to differ:
RFC 3551:
This RFC defines the RTP profile for audio and video conferences with minimal
control, which is a foundational document for real-time multimedia
conferencing.
RFC 7742:
This RFC outlines WebRTC video processing and codec requirements, providing >> guidance for implementing video functionality in web browsers and
applications.
RFC 4353:
This RFC describes a framework for conferencing with the Session Initiation >> Protocol (SIP), which is a signaling protocol used to set up and manage
multimedia sessions.
RFC 7478:
This RFC describes Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) use cases and
requirements, which is a project for real-time communication over the web. >>
and others.
Whether any of these are actually used, I know not.
WebRTC is what powers most web-based video chat, and why there are so many different video chat apps because it's easy to spin up a new one.
(also app-based ones may use WebRTC in the backend for compatibility with their web versions)
What it doesn't do is make an interoperable network.
By analogy, webRTC is like standardising how to put a letter in an envelope but you need a General Post Office type organisation to decide on addresses and stamps to allow people to communicate. Effectively what's happened here is every startup builds their own GPO and you need to be registered with each one to send or receive letters on their platform. It's not in their
business interest to collaborate with other providers with competing platforms.
I suppose the difference with snail mail is that there is a monopoly
(more or less) of that in each country. So those organisations can agree to interoperate.
Tim Streater wrote:
I suppose the difference with snail mail is that there is a monopoly
(more or less) of that in each country. So those organisations can agree to interoperate.
Denmark is halting letter delivery by the end of the year ...
On 6 Mar 2025 at 12:06:43 GMT, "Theo" <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Tim Streater <tim@streater.me.uk> wrote:
On 6 Mar 2025 at 11:48:10 GMT, "Colin Macleod" <user7@newsgrouper.org.invalid>
wrote:
snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) posted:
John Rumm <see.my.signature@nowhere.null> wrote:
You could try Signal - developed by the original developer of whatsapp >>>>>> as a privacy focussed messaging app:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Foundation
I too won't use any Meta apps. I use Signal, it works fine.
I need to start looking at Signal too.
It seems ridiculous that there's no interoperable standard for video
calling as there is for phone calls, email, or even "snail" mail.
Giggle begs to differ:
RFC 3551:
This RFC defines the RTP profile for audio and video conferences with minimal
control, which is a foundational document for real-time multimedia
conferencing.
RFC 7742:
This RFC outlines WebRTC video processing and codec requirements, providing >>> guidance for implementing video functionality in web browsers and
applications.
RFC 4353:
This RFC describes a framework for conferencing with the Session Initiation >>> Protocol (SIP), which is a signaling protocol used to set up and manage
multimedia sessions.
RFC 7478:
This RFC describes Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) use cases and
requirements, which is a project for real-time communication over the web. >>>
and others.
Whether any of these are actually used, I know not.
WebRTC is what powers most web-based video chat, and why there are so many >> different video chat apps because it's easy to spin up a new one.
(also app-based ones may use WebRTC in the backend for compatibility with
their web versions)
What it doesn't do is make an interoperable network.
By analogy, webRTC is like standardising how to put a letter in an envelope >> but you need a General Post Office type organisation to decide on addresses >> and stamps to allow people to communicate. Effectively what's happened here >> is every startup builds their own GPO and you need to be registered with each
one to send or receive letters on their platform. It's not in their
business interest to collaborate with other providers with competing
platforms.
Yes. I suppose the difference with snail mail is that there is a monopoly (more or less) of that in each country. So those organisations can agree to interoperate.
Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
Tim Streater wrote:
I suppose the difference with snail mail is that there is a monopoly
(more or less) of that in each country. So those organisations can agree to >>> interoperate.
Denmark is halting letter delivery by the end of the year ...
"While it will still be possible to send letters with other companies in future, the options at the current time are narrow. There is currently no option outside of PostNord for sending letters internationally." https://www.thelocal.dk/20250306/is-it-possible-to-send-letters-in-denmark-without-postnord
So just as broken as chat app interoperability...
Once everyone is VOIP, the monopoly vanishes. You could set up free SIP >servers in a sort of Internet way to act as DNS servers do today. To >indicate where a given telephone number is to be found this minute...
The PSTN network becomes completely redundant
In a way that's where Whatsapp is right now. The problem is someone owns it
IPV6 could in theory give every telephone in the world a unique IP
address : to make a call you look up a global IPV6 dns system that
tells you what IP address is is.
Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> wrote in >news:4orbsjp0o2dvrr19fdd4cu6a1muhr3q1ip@4ax.com:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
A bit niche but there's always Telegram, free, secure, private, available
for phone or desktop and supports video calling:
https://telegram.org/
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
On 2025-03-03, Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> wrote:
Don't mock: Skype has been very useful to me for many, many years and
I spend several hours each week using Skype to talk to family and
friends all over the world. But it's being retired by Microsoft from
May this year and I need a replacement. Everybody I chat regularly
with seems to have an Apple device now so I'm wondering about getting
something I could use to talk to them with Facetime.
I'm perfectly happy with the computers and phones I currently use so
I'm wondering about getting a cheap(ish) second hand iPhone purely to
use as a Facetime device.
I've just installed Viber as a Skype replacement. I haven't tried it out
yet.
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
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