~~SLIDESHOW~~

====== Thoughts on Free Communication ======
Mithat Konar

Copyright © 2012 Mithat Konar. All rights reserved.

===== Motivation =====
  * Mobile data is almost ubiquitous.
  * Makes it possible to contemplate a //[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_libre|libre]]// alternative to telecoms.
  * Communication means should be:
    * decoupled from the data provider(s).
    * controlled by the user, not the provider.

===== Criteria =====
  * You should have the option to **self-host** the service.
    * Ideally **FOSS**.
    * If self-hosting not possible, then an **open API** is possibly acceptable.
  * **Open standards**
  * **End-to-end encryption**

===== Criteria =====
  * The service(s) should offer:
    * **voice communication**
    * **text messaging**
    * **video communication**
  * Until critical mass is attained, incoming/outgoing **POTS bridge** is arguably mandatory.

===== Some options =====
  * **XMPP + Jingle**
  * **SIP**
  * **Integrated providers** (Skype, Google Voice, TruPhone, etc.)

===== Evaluation =====
  * **XMPP + Jingle**
    * Self-hosting: yes
    * Voice: yes
    * Text: yes (not SMS)
    * Video: yes
    * POTS: **no** (I think)

===== Evaluation =====
  * **SIP**
    * Self-hosting: yes
    * Voice: yes
    * Text: yes
    * Video: ?
    * POTS: yes (provider dependent)

===== Evaluation =====
  * **Integrated providers**
    * Self-hosting: **no**
    * Voice: yes
    * Text: yes (some providers offer SMS as well)
    * Video: yes
    * POTS: yes
    * Comments:
      * Skype uses closed-standard and proprietary codecs. Others may also.

===== Evaluation (tabulated) =====
|                              ^ Self-hosting ^ Voice ^ Text  ^ Video ^ POTS ^
| //**XMPP + Jingle**//        | yes          | yes   | yes   | yes   | no?  |  
| //**SIP**//                  | yes          | yes   | yes   | ?     | yes† |
| //**Integrated providers**// | no           | yes‡  | yes†† | yes   | yes  |

†Provider dependent\\
‡Skype uses closed-standard and proprietary codecs. Others may also.\\
††Some with SMS

===== Conclusion =====
  * **XMPP + Jingle**: Limited by lack of POTS bridge
  * **SIP**: ?
  * **Integrated providers**:
    * Not free
      * Open APIs available for some.
      * Some (most? all?) use closed/proprietary codecs.
    * No self-hosting