Top Softphones For Linux

Previously on VoIP-Sol.com we covered the top softphones for Mac OS X and Windows. We are focussing on usability, features and call costs as the primary means of ranking the range of softphones available for Linux.

While this list may be fairly rudimentary for many regular Linux users, we trust that it will become a reference for users who are moving across to the Linux platform from either Windows or Mac OS X.

1. Skype
Skype for Linux may be a release or two behind the current version for Windows and Linux, but it is still an extremely accomplished softphone. Why you may ask? Well for starters, Skype works seamlessly with the Windows and Mac versions, which means that although you may be using a distro that is not widely used in terms of the broader operating system marketplace you can still avail of free Skype - Skype calls. This, for me, is a huge plus point.

Aside from interoperability, Skype is easy to use. It has a typical contact list that lets you quickly scan for friends and instantly lets you see who is online. I like the fact that I can either send messages or start a call with them. It’s also very useful to know that with Skype you can make cheap local, national and international phone calls with the click of your mouse.

But maybe the best thing about Skype is the fact that there are so many accessories available that you can simply plug in and start using. Don’t forget that many of the DECT and wireless Skype phones that have come onto the market recently are also powered by a Linux kernel, thus opening up a world of hacking opportunities.

2. Gizmo
Like Skype and pretty much any softphone or chat client, Gizmo uses the familiar contact list format to quickly display who is online or not. Gizmo also recently announced that you can sync your Live Journal contact list with Gizmo, making it very easy to keep in touch with your blogging buddies.

Unlike many other softphones, Gizmo is powered by SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). This opens up a world of possibilities, for instance, you can set up Gizmo to work with any SIP-enabled VoIP gateway and use it to make your calls. If you don’t have a SIP gateway fear not, you can use Gizmo to call local, national and international numbers at discounted rates.

If you are a SMB, Gizmo may be the solution for you as they offer special packages tailored to business use. However, Linux users are thin on the ground enough, so if you want to use your softphone to make calls to friends and families then you would probably get more mileage out of Skype as it is far and away the market leader right now. But if you don’t mind not being able to make free Skype - Skype calls, Gizmo is the pick of the bunch.

3. SightSpeed
I like SightSpeed, I’m just not sure about the interface. I suppose they are trying to do things different, and I like companies that think differently. So maybe I should think differently about SightSpeed? It’s just that the interface feels slightly disjointed, but if you are willing to work with it then you’ll find a rich and very well appointed softphone purring under the bonnet.

Interoperability is a feature you’ll enjoy with SightSpeed, it works great with the other versions available for Windows and Mac OS X. As is the de facto with any softphone worth it’s salt, you get free unlimited calls to any other SightSpeed user regardless of their geographical location. They’re call plan for calls made to PSTN landlines and cell phones is also competitive,so if they aren’t available via SightSpeed you won’t be set back a fortune.

4. Wengophone
Like it’s contemporaries, Wengophone is available for Linux as well as Windows and Mac OS X. Right away you are able to call other Wengophone users for free. The problem is that Wengophone is not widely adopted, so while you may have it the chances of your contacts using it is slim. Therefore, you may not be able to actually get the free calls you are after.

Nevertheless, Wengophone is a solid and reliable softphone. It has a clean interface with a prominent and easy to scan contact list, just like every other softphone on the face of the earth. You can very easily start a call and making a call to a PSTN landline of cell phone is a cinch, the prices are also competitive. The developers are obviously after the early adopter crowd having coded up a Firefox extension that integrates tightly with the browser of choice for so many Linux users, making it easy to call from within the browser.

Actually, I really like this feature. Moving from the desktop client to the browser is where it’s at for VoIP as far as I’m concerned. Theoretically we should be able to make a phone call as easy as point and click, just like a hyperlink. If Wengophone’s Firefox extension helps in this endeavor, then great!