OStatic

Recently we covered five VoIP (voice-over-IP) applications for Linux, and some of the more unusal types of devices that the Android operating system is headed for. In a play on both the concepts of VoIP and unusual Android devices, a California startup company, Cloud Telecomputers, has a touchscreen, desktop VoIP phone running Android that it is aiming at business users. It runs the open Glass development platform based on Android, and check out this quote from Ed Zander, former CEO of Motorola: In 3 to 5 years, all business phones will look like Glass. That seems a little over the top, but this desktop phone does look interesting.

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.