Introduction

This chapter will provide an overview of three solutions that are all different in their own way. Skype has made itself into an institution for online peer-to-peer voice calls from anywhere in the world. It was even so good that eBay paid three billion dollars for this very small company. On the other hand, we have a protocol that is not new and does not have the buzz that Skype does.

H.248 is a result of the ITU and the IETF coming together on one standard. Before H.248 there was MGCP and MDCP, both of which were competing protocols. You will not hear much of H.248 in the news since it does not have the flash of Skype, but you will need it for any VOIP implementation. Last we will talk about Microsoft LCS and how Microsoft is using its new server to bring different IM providers and companies together.

Skype

Skype is a peer-to-peer VOIP client that has taken over mainstream VOIP use on the Internet. As of early 2006, Skype had claimed more than 236,799,174 downloads of the most popular voice software client on the Internet to date. Why would so many people download this client just to make a call on the Internet? Because it s free. And not only that, but it does the job better than any of its competitors that have come out with a free version in the last two years. I know what you are thinking: I still have to pay...