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by manquer 2208 days ago
The open proctols for RTC today is webTRC. Zoom does not use webRTC. If the proctols Are open like http then I can build my own client and do not have to use theirs (just like you can your own hacker news app) . Zoom will not use webRTC for this precise reason. If they and all others did I can choose my client and I can choose a client who I trust and will give my green tick open source or not .

Google supported jabber in chat for a long time , slack supported IRC (both dropped the support ) but when they did you could any irc client in slack or use google chat using jabber with any client

If an open protocols for video are used like email (although not good example for encryption). It does not matter who your service provider is you can verify they are secure , or move to another one .

Today I have more than 10 video conferencing apps on my devices (zoom, Hangouts, meet, Webex , teams, GoToMeeting , chime , Skype, SfB, FaceTime , signal, telegram , ring central and Uber conference... ) because a customer , partner friend or family uses one of those . I have only one email and browser client though, it does not have to open source at all, ppl happily pay for closed source gmail or o365 without worrying will my mails deliver to you while still using official client or client of their choice
1 comments
dijksterhuis 2208 days ago
Sorry, to clarify, when i say protocol I specifically mean the E2E encryption protocol.

Also, have you thought about asking your clients/whatever to use one app to communicate with you? Even if you get half of them onboard, it sounds like it would save you a lot of mental bother.

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manquer 2208 days ago
I wish , every company has their own app to use , they will invite you to their conference by default, asking 10 people on the call to change for 1-2 is not feasible.

Many of them cannot install any new native application on their desktop / phone without IT approvals or their vpn does not allow traffic to consumer apps like Hangouts . They also need to record for compliance , pre-Covid some apps like Webex are connected to their conference room bridges using dedicated lines and hardware etc

Family / friends do not use use biz tools , it not easier to convince Apple users who like FaceTime, messenger is popular in few countries , wechat in China , WhatsApp in other places .

It is easier install another app rather than trying to get your grandma to switch from one thing someone installed on her phone and she learnt to use.

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