Re:GNU Free Call has been announced (Skype-like software)
by aaronbrethorst on Monday March 14, 2011 @04:38PM
(#2324331)
Regarding cell phone manufacturers: that's not really the same thing.
Phone numbers are universal. It's not like an iPhone user on AT&T can only call other AT&T users[1], or that T-Mobile customers can only call other T-Mobile customers. Skype limits me to reaching out to other Skype users. FaceTime only works with people who have bought into the Apple ecosystem.
[1] Although one might suggest that these iPhone users can, in fact, call no one.
Re:GNU Free Call has been announced (Skype-like software)
by woodson on Monday March 14, 2011 @06:05PM
(#2324716)
Well, that's due to rigorous standardization. Think about the speech codecs etc. used in mobile telephony. It's not like a phone number gives you anything more than an IP address does.
Phone numbers are universal. It's not like an iPhone user on AT&T can only call other AT&T users[1], or that T-Mobile customers can only call other T-Mobile customers. Skype limits me to reaching out to other Skype users. FaceTime only works with people who have bought into the Apple ecosystem.
[1] Although one might suggest that these iPhone users can, in fact, call no one.