.

[LLS]

.

[Moem]

I've used Mumble for group discussions. I found it easy enough to use and it worked well. Never tried it one-one-one but I see no reason why that would not work well, too.

Telegram does voice chat as well and I like it a lot. Not sure whether that's VOIP and whether you consider it secure enough. But it has the advantage that you can run it on both a smartphone and a desktop. It does require a phone number that can receive SMS (text messages) to set up.

[kyphi]

Here are a few alternatives to Skype: https://alternativeto.net/software/skyp ... form=linux

As far as VoIP is concerned, that is something that your ISP may be able to provide. You will have to ask them. It has nothing to do with computer operating systems but is a telephony service. It works via your modem and a standard 21st century telephone. I have been using it for many years.

For conversations and video with multiple participants look at this: https://appear.in/

[LLS]

.

[kyphi]

The only thing I know about SIP Witch is what I can read on line. Jitsi uses that protocol (SIP).

"appear.in/" allows for 4 participants in its free version - if you have more participants they charge a modest fee. It is worth looking into. Nothing to download or install.

[LLS]

.

[phd21]

Hi LLS,

You might consider amending your subject to something like "Re: Skype alternative voip applications".

There are many posts in this forum on this topic.

My favorite is the secure "qTox" over the secure Tox network. It is not a voip/sip application but does text, voice, and or video, one on one or group chat, file transfers, etc... very well. There are various Tox software clients for smartphones and tablets just check the app stores for Tox. Anyone using any Tox client can communicate securely with anyone else using any Tox client.

FYI: qTox (Qtox) secure multimedia messenger installation
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=257745&hilit=qtox

qTox: A New Kind of Instant Messaging
https://qtox.github.io/

FYI: Installing their Jami Ring repository for your version of Linux Mint worked perfectly on my systems, but when I tried to install their deb file on my KDE system it wanted to remove some other packages. Linux Mint 19.x = Ubuntu 18.04 and Linux Mint 18.x = Ubuntu 16.04.

Discover Jami
https://jami.net/discover/

Ring Becomes Jami - SFL Free/Libre!
https://blog.savoirfairelinux.com/en-ca ... omes-jami/

Ring Messenger
https://ringmsg.com/

How to Install the Skype alternative Ring on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
https://vitux.com/how-to-install-the-sk ... 18-04-lts/

Linux Mint 19.x (Ubuntu 18.04) installation instructions to install Jami Ring using their repository
To install this using their repository method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one: Click "Select All" above command, right click the highlighted command, select Copy (or Ctrl+Insert), click in the console terminal window, and right click paste ("Shift+Insert" or "Ctrl+Shift+v"), repeat for each command.

Code: Select all

sudo sh -c "echo 'deb https://dl.ring.cx/ring-nightly/ubuntu_18.04/ ring main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ring-nightly-main.list"

Code: Select all

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys A295D773307D25A33AE72F2F64CD5FA175348F84

Code: Select all

sudo add-apt-repository universe

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ring

Linux Mint 18.x (Ubuntu 16.04) installation instructions to install Jami Ring using their repository
To install this using their repository method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one: Click "Select All" above command, right click the highlighted command, select Copy (or Ctrl+Insert), click in the console terminal window, and right click paste ("Shift+Insert" or "Ctrl+Shift+v"), repeat for each command.

Code: Select all

sudo sh -c "echo 'deb https://dl.ring.cx/ring-nightly/ubuntu_16.04/ ring main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ring-nightly-main.list"

Code: Select all

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys A295D773307D25A33AE72F2F64CD5FA175348F84

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sudo add-apt-repository universe

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sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ring

Wire Messenger - created by some ex-Skype developers
https://wire.com/en/download/

Jitsi desktop - install Nightly Repository - multi-account multimedia messenger with SIP/Voip options
https://desktop.jitsi.org/Main/DebianNightlyRepository

jitsi.org - information
https://desktop.jitsi.org/


Linphone - sip/voip
http://www.linphone.org/technical-corne ... cal_corner


Hope this helps ...

[Moem]

TBH most the time it will just be a call between me and one other person. I guess I was hoping that theres something secure and unique for one to one calls.

So are Mumble and Telegram not secure enough, or not unique?

[LLS]

.

[Moem]

I thought I read that Mumble needs a server? See I'm confused

No, you're not, you are in fact correct! Then I withdraw that recommendation, and recommend Telegram, instead. It delivers crystal clear voice calls over internet.

[phd21]

Hi LLS,

You are welcome from all of us that replied...

I updated my last reply with more information.

I have installed and tried most multimedia messengers and I recommend you and your people do the same. Jami (Ring) and Wire (created by ex-Skype developers) are also very well liked and reviewed. Although I have Jami-Ring and Wire installed, I have not yet had a chance to try them with anyone.

I really love the secure qTox and Tox clients because they work well and use very little of my computer resources, so I have it running all the time.

I also use a multimedia multi-account messenger like Jitsi for those people not using qTox or a tox client because it allows me to enter multiple messenger accounts for my Gmail (Google Hangouts/Talk) accounts, Xmpp/Jabber accounts, Sip/Voip accounts, all in one messenger application to send and receive text messages, voice, and or video calls. Tip: When using Jitsi, after entering in your messaging accounts, go into the security tab and create OTR fingerprints for each messaging account for secure communications and check options to prefer OTR secure communications.

If I am not mistaken, Telegram requires a working phone number to install, configure, and use?

does telegram require a phone number - Google Search
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp ... wWhox2H17Y

Keep us posted on which multimedia messenger or sip/voip software you and your people like the most.

If you do not want to install anything, Jitsi Meet has an online option that works well and is supposed to be secure for one on one or group messaging. Works on all platforms through a browser just enter in a call group name and invite others to join in.

Jitsi Meet - Instant Free Videoconferencing
https://jitsi.org/jitsi-meet/

Hope this helps ...

[Moem]

If I am not mistaken, Telegram requires a working phone number to install, configure, and use?

True. But it does not need to be a smartphone, and the software does not need to be installed on the phone. You can use the desktop client standalone; it will sometimes send an SMS to your phone as a form of authentication. So if your phone can receive text messages, that's enough.
Personally I use it on both my desktop and smartphone, and love that I can make calls to other Telegram users with it, as long as I'm connected to the internet.

[LLS]

.

[phd21]

Hi Kate, LLS ,

The easiest option to install qTox is their "flatpak" option from the Software Manager, then comes the AppImage file, then comes my install scripts. See link below.

FYI: qTox (Qtox) secure multimedia messenger installation - Linux Mint Forums
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=257745&hilit=qtox

Hope this helps ...

Here are 3 easy options for installing "qTox" (Qtox) in your Linux Mint 18.x or 19.x systems.

1.) "qTox" is in the Software Manager as a "FlatPak".
Alternate Download link to qTox flatpak file
https://github.com/qTox/qTox/releases/d ... 64.flatpak

qTox—Linux Apps on Flathub
https://flathub.org/apps/details/io.github.qtox.qTox

OR
2.) "qTox" AppImage download link, save the file, give yourself permission to run it, double-click it to run it. Or install the AppImage Launcher helper app below, then double-click the qTox AppImage file.
https://github.com/qTox/qTox/releases/d ... 4.AppImage

An Application to make using AppImages even easier
Easily Run And Integrate AppImage Files With AppImageLauncher
https://www.linuxuprising.com/2018/04/e ... files.html

Click the link below, click the 64-bit deb file (amd64.deb) or 32-bit (i386.deb) for your system, use Bionic deb files for Linux Mint 19. Double-click the deb file to install it, restart your computer, then double-click an AppImage file to install and or run that.
https://github.com/TheAssassin/AppImage ... r/releases

OR
3.) For people who want to fully install "qTox" into their Linux Mint 18.x or 19.x systems, click the link below to download an archive file "qtox-install-lm.tar.gz" which contains 2 bash installation script programs, one for Linux Mint 18.x and another for Linux Mint 19.x, that will download current versions of qTox source code, compile it, and install qTox.

Download Link.

qtox-install-lm.tar.gz

Save the "qtox-install-lm.tar.gz" file, right-click it and extract it, copy the script file for your system to your home folder, and then open a console terminal and type in or copy and paste the commands below:

For Linux Mint 19.x

Code: Select all

chmod a+x qtox-install-lm19.sh

Code: Select all

bash qtox-install-lm19.sh

.
.
For Linux Mint 18.x

Code: Select all

chmod a+x qtox-install-lm18.sh

Code: Select all

bash qtox-install-lm18.sh