OStatic

While the ten hopeful finalists in the Cisco Think Inside the Box developer competition await the judges' decision, OStatic has been fortunate enough to speak with a few teams about their submissions. The global contest centered on the network as a platform approach to develop applications using Cisco's Linux-based AXP (Application Extension Platform), a service module on its ISR (Integrated Services Routers).

Today, Roman Skvirsky of Team RSDevs has graciously taken the time to tell OStatic readers a little bit more about his Flash Gateway to Videoconferences application. The Flash Gateway to Videoconferences allows users to connect and join conferences and audio calls to H.323 and SIP phones through a web browser -- requiring no additional software installation beyond the Flash plugin.

Landline phone service is so last week, but many people don't want to use up huge chunks of cell phone minutes while chatting with friends or dialing into conference calls. Using your computer and a headset to make calls via VoIP seems like a no brainer and there are several applications to choose from that run really well on Linux and are great for personal or small business use. Let's take a look at a few.

Skype for Linux - When it comes to making calls over a computer connection, Skype is probably the first VoIP service that springs to mind for most people. Skype for Linux lets users make audio and video calls to other users anywhere in the word for free, and to cell phones and land lines for a very low price. Set up group chats with up to 150 people or manage a conference call with 25 people. One thing to note: Although the Skype software runs on Linux, it is not an open source app.

When it comes to open source telephony software, Asterisk has one of the longest, most illustrious backgrounds in the market. There's been a nagging issue that's been holding Asterisk back, however, especially in larger enterprises -- a lack of professional support. Digium, the corporate entity that sponsors Asterisk, began offering tiered subscription support services through its storefront this week.

Just as it has been for the previous ten years, the Asterisk telephony engine and toolkit is available for download (free of charge, licensed under the GPL) with support, advice, and discussion offered through the community forums. The subscription support plans are designed to complement the community-driven efforts while giving enterprises the option to call upon dedicated experts to help with deployment, maintenance and training.

Open source telephony and communications company Fonality announced today it has received $12 million in an additional round of financing. That's good news in light of recent suggestions that investors are beginning to slowly close their wallets on open source companies.

While the rest of the world is knee-deep in webinars, Skype-based teleconferences, and other Web 2.0 -ish forms of real time communication, most of the Linux community still relies on IRC, wikis, and opt-in email lists to get things done. At FUDCon last month, the Fedora community announced a new way of helping members and developers communicate with each other: Fedora Talk

Dell begins bundling Fonalityﾒs open-source software with its enterprise servers today, its latest gambit to compete in the already-crowded VoIP market ﾗ this time targeting companies with 125 employees or fewer.

Chris Lyman, the founder of the VoIP startup, Fonality, blogs under the moniker Janitorﾗ which he prefers to his other title: CEO.