SIP Clients

Session Initiation Protocol is a signaling protocol for Internet conferencing, telephony, presence, events notification and instant messaging, and is fast becoming one of the more popular protocols for VoIP in businesses and homes alike. Here are a few programs that have helped bring SIP to the forefront of the market.

Linphone: Linphone is promoted as a solution to help users communicate more freely over the Internet using voice, video and text messaging. Recent updates to the program have made it even better, solving many compilation issues while adding improved interoperability and new features. While currently only stable on Linux systems, development is under way for a Windows version as well.

PhoneGaim: If you haven’t heard of PhoneGaim you’ve likely heard of its proprietary counterpart Gizmo Project. While it doesn’t have the instant name recognition of its VoIP cousin Gizmo, PhoneGaim is still a product to take note of. Developed in an attempt to challenge Skype, the program is loaded with integrated features that help make the VoIP experience rewarding, even for those just using the software at home.

OpenWengo: Started and developed by the French company, Wengo, OpenWengo is a great, and popular, open source choice for anyone looking for simple and easy-to-use VoIP software. This softphone program allows users to call between computers and phones, and has additional instant messaging and contact management capabilities. The recent development of a Firefox plugin that allows users to make calls quickly and simply from their browsers is just one example of the continued innovation and popularity of this multi-featured program.

Cockatoo: Users of Thunderbird have Cockatoo to thank for simple VoIP integration with their email. The program allows users to make a call simply by clicking on entries in their address book. It’s simplicity and aim to make VoIP more fully integrated into business systems has made it a popular addition to business and personal computers.

Minisip: Minsip is an Internet based phone that can be used to make phone calls, instant message and video call to anyone connected to the same SIP network. Developed by PhD and masters students at Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Minisip is a simple by highly functional VoIP phone. Users can even make calls from PDAs or pocket PCs running Windows or Linux, making VoIP on the road easy and cheap.

OpenZoep: Developed by Voipster, OpenZoep is a popular client-side VoIP choice, providing the ability to both make calls and send and receive instant messages. Since its release, developers have continually added new features, especially from users in Europe, where the product was first developed. Continued changes and a responsive market have made OpenZoep a popular solution both here and abroad.

Shtoom: Shtoom is a open-source, cross-platform VoIP softphone, implemented in Python which also includes an application called doug which can be used to write and modify VoIP applications. This built-in framework for modification encourages customization, one of the reasons open source software is so popular.

Twinkle: Linux users have embraced the softphone Twinkle for making VoIP calls through an SIP protocol. Twinkle is a great solution for many users as it provides many, if not more, of the features found in regular telephony including custom ring tones, voice mail, conference calling, and multiple lines. These features, in addition to its open source usability, make Twinkle a popular choice among Linux users.

YeaPhone: YeaPhone is unique among open source VoIP systems in that it hopes to take the computer monitor and keyboard completely out of the picture when making VoIP calls, opting instead to use the Yealink USB headset. This makes it more similar to many commercially available phone systems, and a popular choice among users searching for an open source alternative to those systems.