Actually, you are right..... it does seems to be in the multiverse repositories..but only in the lucid lynx version.. lol!<br><br>I think they could be possibly referring to why it doesnt come setup by default on a new install, like they do with <br>
other open source apps like open office, evolution etc.<br><br>i can also confirm that pidgin has an installable from skype plugin from our local repo's.... so the part of being 'locked<br>in' when using the skype app is also somewhat incorrect...<br>
<br>go figure!<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM, O. Sinclair <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:o.sinclair@gmail.com">o.sinclair@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
Skype is in the Canonical partner repos from 10.04 so not a completely true story - it is not part of "core Ubuntu" but just as you can install Adobe Reader from Canonical you can now install Skype.<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Sinclair<div class="im"><br>
<br>
On 07/06/2010 12:06, Kalpesh Thaker wrote:<br>
</div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="im">
<br>
hi guys...i thought this was quite an interesting read.. on a very<br>
common question for ubuntu users:<br>
<br>
<a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SkypeEthics" target="_blank">https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SkypeEthics</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Why is Skype not part of Ubuntu?<br>
<br>
Skype is not part of the Ubuntu distribution because it does not conform<br>
to the requirements of the Ubuntu Charter. This is primarily because<br>
source code is not available. A consequence of this is that it is<br>
impossible to understand the Skype communication protocol, which<br>
prevents competition and fractures the VoIP market, making it harder for<br>
people to communicate. As an example, Skype users can only talk with<br>
other Skype users because the Skype protocol is closed. But people using<br>
SIP clients like Ekiga can talk with anyone else using a SIP client<br>
(such as Wengophone or Twinkle) since SIP is a free protocol.<br>
<br>
Earlier versions of Skype (1.2 and older) might have issues with basic<br>
sound cards that do not support hardware mixing due to using the Open<br>
Sound System (OSS).<br>
<br>
<br>
VoIP soft-phones included in Ubuntu<br>
<br>
There are several alternative software based VoIP phones, that are 'free<br>
libre open', use 'open' protocols, and are included in the Ubuntu<br>
repositories. Among others, there are:<br>
<br>
*<br>
<br></div>
Empathy <<a href="http://live.gnome.org/Empathy" target="_blank">http://live.gnome.org/Empathy</a>> with full Video & Voice<div class="im"><br>
chat support, Google Talk compatible<br>
<br>
*<br>
<br></div>
Pidgin <<a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Pidgin" target="_blank">https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Pidgin</a>><br>
<br>
*<br>
<br>
Ekiga <<a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ekiga" target="_blank">https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ekiga</a>><br>
<br>
*<br>
<br>
Twinkle <<a href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Twinkle" target="_blank">https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Twinkle</a>><br>
<br>
*<br>
<br>
Wengophone <<a href="http://www.wengophone.com/" target="_blank">http://www.wengophone.com/</a>> now known as Qutecom.<div class="im"><br>
<br>
* KPhone<br>
* Gimzo5<br>
<br>
<br>
Ethics of Skype<br>
<br>
<br>
Free Software<br>
<br>
Ubuntu supports free software, which anyone can use, modify and improve,<br>
and open protocols, so that different software can interoperate. Skype's<br>
software and the Skype protocol are both entirely secret. Users may<br>
choose to avoid Skype because:<br>
<br>
* They will be forced to use Skype software as no alternatives will<br>
be available<br>
* Once they develop a Skype network of contacts, it will be harder<br>
to move to a free network<br>
* Skype could begin charging for their service at any time they choose<br>
*<br>
<br>
Skype has deliberately limited capabilities of Skype for non-Intel<br></div>
users (details here <<a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=947" target="_blank">http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=947</a>>)<br>
<br>
* Skype is provided and runs natively only on the x86 and x86_64 (32<div class="im"><br>
and 64 bit), ARM (iPhone) and Power PC (Mac with G4 or G5<br>
processor) architectures, excluding people using other architectures<br>
<br>
<br>
Free speech<br>
<br>
Users may choose to avoid Skype because they have been engaged in<br>
censorship in China. Chinese users and users in certain countries may<br>
fear that along with censorship, they will suffer disclosure of their<br>
private conversations to other people, authorities or governments.<br>
<br>
</div></blockquote>
<br>
</blockquote></div><br>