A Beginner's Guide to the Internet/INTERNET.ISO/text/usenet/netphon7/netphon7.txt

Text File | 1996-05-06 | 10.9 KB | 274 lines

alt.culture.internet,alt.winsock.voice,alt.winsock.ivc,comp.sys.mac.comm
Internet as
a telephone?"
alt.bbs.internet:12686
alt.culture.internet:11621 comp.sys.mac.comm:106084


Archive-name: internet-services/voice-faq
Last-Modified: 1995/4/27

FAQ: How can I use the Internet as a telephone?
Version 0.2 - April 27 1995

* This is a DRAFT FAQ. This document is new and in transition. If you
notice that software for doing speech over the Internet is  missing from
this list, or information herein needs updating, please send e-mail to
[e-mail] *

This document is copyright 1995 by Kevin M. Savetz. All rights reserved.
More legal stuff is near the end of this file.

*** TABLE OF CONTENTS
Can I use the Internet as a telephone?
   How does it work?
What software is available?
   For the Mac
      Maven
      NetPhone
   For Windows
      Internet Global Phone
      Internet Phone
      Internet Voice Chat
   For UNIX
      mtalk
      nevot
      vat
      ztalk
Legal Stuff
Where to Find this Document

*** CAN I USE THE INTERNET AS A TELEPHONE?
Yes. In recent months, several programs have become available that will
let you, equipped with the right computer hardware, an Internet
connection, and special software, to "speak" in real-time (or
almost-real time) over the Internet - in effect using the network like a
telephone.

Some of the programs available to do voice on the 'net is free, others
are commercial. Many of these products are ready for prime time, but
others are still very experimental.

Besides the software, you will need an Internet connection (a 9600 BPS
connection will work for some software; others require as much as
56KBPS. Most of the PC-based software works nicely with a 14.4KBPS
modem.) Shell accounts aren't enough: you need real IP access (such as a
SLIP or PPP connection.) You'll also need a pretty speedy computer.
Although the exact specs vary from program to program, a Mac Classic or
a PC XT generally won't do the trick :-) Your computer will need a
microphone and sound output capability.

+++ HOW DOES IT WORK?
It's magic! Audioconferencing programs work by digitizing your speech as
you talk and sending the digital data over the Internet. But there's a
problem: a typical modem connection has limited bandwidth - 14.4KBPS
modems can send and receive a maximum of 1,800 bytes of non-compressible
data each second. Telephone quality speech needs 8,000 bytes per second
of bandwidth. There are two solutions to the problem: get more
bandwidth, or compress the sound information before transmitting it.
Although both solutions are used, most programs compress the audio.

There are a variety of methods for encoding and compressing sound data,
and as you might expect, the standards aren't necessarily very standard,
yet. The quality of the audio you'll send and receive depends on the
application you're using, the speed of your computer and the compression
method used. In my tests, audio is usually understandable, albeit less
clear than a phone call. Still, talking across the country or around the
world for the cost of an Internet connection is kind of amazing, and
easy on the wallet.

You and the associate you are talking to need to be using software that
can transmit and receive the same protocol. That doesn't necessarily
mean you need the same software, or even the same type of computer. For
instance, the GSM protocol is pretty standard. However, some programs
can only use proprietary encoding methods, so they'll only communicate
with the same software on the other side of the wire. Standard
compression methods are:
     GSM: for more information: http://www.cs.tu-
berlin.de/~jutta/toast.html
     CVSD
     RTP: Real Time Protocol

*** WHAT SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE?
+++ For the Mac
>>> MAVEN
Maven was the first Internet audioconferencing tool for Macintosh. Maven
is free software, but it is a bandwidth hog. Maven requires a minimum of
16KBPS, so even in its lowest quality sampling mode, it requires just a
little bit more bandwidth than a 14.4KBPS modem can give you. The
program can talk to other Macs running Maven, as well as the UNIX vat
program.

Platform: Macintosh, 16BPS of bandwidth
Encoding/compression: vat or Maven-proprietary
Web page: http://pipkin.lut.ac.uk/WWWdocs/LUTCHI/misc/maven.html
Mailing list: send e-mail:
     To: [e-mail]
     Body: subscribe maven your name
Software: ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/packages/infosystems/maven
Cost: free

>>> NETPHONE
NetPhone, like Maven, it gives an Internet-connected Macintosh the
ability to do audioconferencing. But NetPhone works over slower
connections, even with a 14.4KBPS modem. At a sampling rate of 10,000
samples per second, the sound quality isn't wonderful, but the voice of
my NetPhone compatriots are certainly understandable. There's a free
demo version of NetPhone available that limits calls to 90 seconds.

Platform: Mac LC or faster, 14.4KBPS modem
Encoding/compression: vat, CVSD, GSM
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web page: http://www.emagic.com/
Software: http://www.emagic.com/
Cost: $75 per copy, or $125 for two copies. Free demo.

+++ For Windows
>>> INTERNET GLOBAL PHONE
Internet Global Phone is not a clean, ready-to-use application. In fact,
it is very much a work in progress. Internet Global Phone is a
"technology demonstration project" providing a code platform for two way
real-time voice exchange over the Internet. The details of the project
are documented in an article in Dr. Dobb's Journal in December 1994. If
you like hacking in Microsoft Visual C++, you too can hack on Internet
Global Phone. IGP currently lacks a real user interface.

Platform: Windows 3.1, 20 MhZ 386 or faster, 14.4KBPS modem
Encoding/compression: GSM
E-mail: [e-mail] (Sing Li)
Software: ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu:/win3/demos/IGP*
Source code: ftp://ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de:/pub/local/kbs/tubmik/gsm/ddj
Cost: free

>>> INTERNET PHONE
Internet Phone runs on top of Internet Relay Chat, providing you with a
list of on-line users and topics of conversation, making it easy to find
new people to chat with.

Platform: Windows 3.1, 33 MHz 486 or faster, Winsock 1.1, 14.4KBPS modem
Encoding/compression: Internet Phone proprietary
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web page: http://www.vocaltec.com/
          User directory: http://www.pulver.com/
Software: ftp://ftp.vocaltec.com:/pub
Cost: $99

>>> INTERNET VOICE CHAT
Internet Voice Chat provides almost - but not quite - real-time
communication. Unlike other communications programs, it doesn't send
sound as you speak -- it waits until you finish to compress and send the
sound. The result is a slower-paced conversation with frequent gaps.
(On-the-fly compression is planned for a future version.) Once the
shareware is registered, the program includes features line an answering
machine and call screening functions.

Platform: Windows 3.1, 386 or faster, Trumpet Winsock 2.0B, 14.4KBPS
modem
Encoding/compression: Internet Voice Chat proprietary
E-mail: [e-mail]
Newsgroup: news:alt.winsock.ivc
Web page: http://futures.wharton.upenn.edu:80/~ahrens26/ivc.html
Cost: shareware, $25

+++ For UNIX
>>> MTALK
MTALK is an "very alpha" experimental voice-talk system for LINUX. It
uses low bandwidth (approx. 1 KBPS) and claims to work even on computers
with very low bandwidth connections. Requires a LINUX workstation with a
Soundblaster compatible sound-card.

Encoding/compression: unknown
Platforms: Linux
E-mail: [e-mail]
Software: ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/talk/
Source code: ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/talk/
Cost: free

>>> NEVOT
NEVOT (Network Voice Terminal) provides voice communications using
unicast, simulated multicast or IP multicast, using the vat or RTP
protocols. Requires a high-end workstation.

Encoding/compression: vat, RTP, GSM, LPC
Platforms: SunOs 4.1, Solaris 2, Irix, HP/UX
Web site: http://www.fokus.gmd.de/step/employees/hgs/nevot/nevot.html
          http://www.cs.tu-berlin.de/~jutta/toast.html
Software: ftp://gaia.cs.umass.edu/pub/hgschulz/nevot
          ftp://ftp.fokus.gmd.de/pub/minos/nevot
Cost: free

>>> VAT
Vat was the first audioconferencing tool for the Internet. Requires a
high-end UNIX machine.

Encoding/compression: vat
Platforms: Sun Sparcstation, Silicon Graphics and DECstation 5000
Software: ftp://cs.ucl.ac.uk/mice/videoconference/vat/
Cost: free

>>> ZTALK
Simple, "Extremely alpha" voice software for Linux. Includes a voicemail
feature.

Encoding/compression: GSM
Platforms: Linux
E-mail: [e-mail]
Source code: ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/sound/talk/
Cost: free

*** LEGAL STUFF
This document is copyright 1995 by Kevin M. Savetz. All rights reserved.

Permission for the following types of distribution is hereby granted,
provided that this file is distributed intact, including the above
copyright notice:
     - non-commercial distribution
     - posting to Internet archives, BBSs and online services
     - distribution by teachers, librarians and Internet trainers
     - inclusion on software/FAQ/Internet-oriented CD-ROMs

Permission for commercial distribution may be obtained from the editor.
SHARE THIS INFORMATION FREELY AND IN GOOD FAITH. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE
MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT.

This document is new and in transition. If you notice that something
important is missing, or information herein needs updating, please
contact the editor.

The editor and contributors have developed this FAQ as a service to the
Internet community. We hope you find it useful. This FAQ is purely a
volunteer effort. Although every effort has been made to insure that
answers are as accurate as possible, no guarantee is implied or
intended. While the editor tries to keep this document current, remember
that the Internet and its services are constantly changing, so don't be
surprised if you happen across statements which are obsolete. If you do,
please send corrections to the editor. Corrections, questions, and
comments should be sent to Kevin Savetz at [e-mail] -
please indicate what version of this document to which you are
referring.

*** WHERE TO FIND THIS DOCUMENT
This file WILL BE BUT ISN'T YET posted twice monthly (on the 5th and
19th of each month) to Usenet newsgroups

You can find it on the WorldWideWeb:
http://www.northcoast.com/~savetz/voice-faq.html

You can receive each new edition of this document automatically via
electronic mail, if you are so inclined. This is a low-volume list, with
updates every few weeks. To subscribe, send e-mail:
     To: [e-mail]
     Body: <ignored>

You can also receive it once via electronic mail (without subscribing to
automatic updates).
     To: [e-mail]
     Body: send voice-faq

You WILL BE ABLE TO BUT CAN'T YET receive it via anonymous FTP:

###end of document###