Skype (the famous Voice-Over-IP communication program) will be released under an open source license. The story started when Olivier FAURAX (google cache) sent an email requesting Mandriva version of Skype.
We are happy to be able to inform you that Skype will from now on be part of the open source community.
Therefore Linux developers will be enabled to influence the development of the Skype client for Linux - which will most certainly result in specific versions for the different distributions.”
This step will boost adopting Skype as the best communication program in GNU/Linux distributions.
Update: we've contacted Skype.com to clarify this issue and we got this reply:
"We appreciate our user community's enthusiasm and realize this is something they have been wanting for a while. We realize the potential of the open source community and believe that making Skype for Linux an open source application will help to speed up its development and enhance its compatibility with different versions of Linux. While it is our goal to make Skype for Linux source code available to the community in the nearest future, we are not at a point to disclose an exact release date yet."
Update 2: Here is an official statement from Skype
For me it's a tool of
Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 13:11For me it's a tool of chatting.
Just like QQ.
too bad....
glenneroo (not verified) on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 00:10...its only the GUI that will be open-sourced :(
open source
Cherkizone (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 13:05Just a quick update, since we seem to have hit slashdot with this news.
Yes, there's an open source version of Linux client being developed.
Cross continental calls going Open Source? w00t
Mouse (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 12:50So Skype are entering the "multicultural" open source community for development of their excellent offering? I realise some peeps will make money out of this - but a general high five all round.
The charity I volunteer with is all about Open Education and sharing of knowledge but trying to talk to our users back home means flicking the cognitive dissonance Windows/Apple switch which sort of puts flies in the idealistic ointment.
American Gap year students and charitable founders are welcome to use expensive systems for their day to day needs. But out in Thailand, Guatamala and the Dominican Republic we need as cheap as free alternatives to promote education especially on systems as old as the ones we use.
This is good news as we can bridge that gap at each end.
I'm just wondering if it'll stick the the GNU license properly or at least credit authors for works used for commercial purposes.
Cool.
electric cigarette (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 00:47Skype rocks.. good to see some people going the right away (open source).
this makes me want to give
Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 04:04this makes me want to give them money.
unlike some greedy ass company's.
Reply not Replay!
Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 22:37Reply not Replay!
skype have officially talked
alsadi (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 22:01it's true, and it's true just the UI (they want to get more internationalization)
check this
http://share.skype.com/sites/linux/2009/11/skype_open_source.html
API Libs
Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:11They will be releasing API Libs that you can link with. This will allow OSS development of clients, as long at you accept that the main Lib is closed source.
I haven't got it like that
guray (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:04I dont think they will open their source in an early future. They can deliver a mandriva package.
Open 'er up
pThomas (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 20:19I think its great (if it happens), who knows where open source Client Protocol will lead. I would guess it will allow for much tighter integration and mashups not to mention better wrappers and APIs.
Is it not sort of possible to integrate already?
Mikael Karon (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:24AFAIK there's a few ways to integrate with the client already (ok, the client itself is not oss, but maybe the libs are). Check out:
And last but not least
No
Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 07:54All these require skype itself to be running, and are thus not solutions.
Sounds cool to me
psychic readings (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:22Sounds cool to me
Integration into other clients
phonixor (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:16well even if they just give the API of the protocol...
that will be enough to integrate skype into Empathy...
that would be very cool... as it will allow me to keep my contacts manageable
This would be good news
Ryan Croon (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:48This would be good news though, if true.
Right......
Ryan Croon (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:47I'll believe it when i see it!
No joke
Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:44They're saying that they're going to be working with the community, not that they're changing licenses.
Skype never disclosed their
Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:44Skype never disclosed their encryption algorithm and now they want to go Open Source?! I call shenanigans!
Maybe the open the client not
Zayed on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:49Maybe the open the client not that encryption algorithm.
Being part of the open source
Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:08Being part of the open source community isn't the same as opening up their source code.
Inaccurate!
Definitely not truly open source
Derek Silva (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:05Indeed, the CLIENT may be open source but the protocols won't be. The protocols, according to Joltid, are still owned by a private corporation (Joltid)/founders of Skype and eBay didn't receive the rights to the protocols when it bought the Skype business.
There's a legal battle still broiling over the core of Skype, and nothing major will be happening until that's been settled or been to trial.
eBay's been working on writing new protocols since shortly after it bought Skype. Don't expect to see the protocols go open source anytime soon, if ever. If they did, Skype would no longer need to exist.
That what we need. The client
Zayed on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 18:19That what we need. The client is enough at this stage. Why do we need a VoIP protocol when we have jabber Protocol.
Yeah, it's a joke
Trix (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 01:05what's about the protocol
will it be open
absolutely NO
i love jabber Protocol = xmpp and will support it by using it.
Open source For ever.
It's a joke
C'mon (not verified) on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 20:14It's a joke
Is't??
noface on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 20:33Can you elaborate more??
How is it a joke??
Good news
Hamad Al-Absi (not verified) on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 16:39It will be great things if it is truth.