How do you VoiP with Librem 5?

Hardware Librem 5
21

I used this ( Get Element on Linux) from https://element.io/get-started (click "Also available on Linux) to install Element-Desktop:
sudo apt install -y wget apt-transport-https

sudo wget -O /usr/share/keyrings/riot-im-archive-keyring.gpg https://packages.riot.im/debian/riot-im-archive-keyring.gpg

echo “deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/riot-im-archive-keyring.gpg] https://packages.riot.im/debian/ default main” | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/riot-im.list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install element-desktop

22

thank you @Jan2
I’ll be giving it a go

1 Like
23

Are you installing on an L5? I’m still waiting for mine :woozy_face:, but interested in how it works on the L5.

24

I will try too.
At the moment I don’t have time for experiments so it will have to wait.
I am not using my L5 at the moment at all - being pressed for time and not being a Linux Guru I just don’t have the time to invest in this hobby of mine.
I’ll post as soon as I’ve done something with it.

25

As I suspected it will be a fuff.
Having updated the sources list it says packages.riot.im/debian default InRelease’ doesn’t support architecture ‘arm64’

26

If you care to read and if you understand these things here’s a beginning…

27

I did read your link, at least the last parts. The thing is, I have installed element on my amd64 Ubuntu system following the instructions as above. Besides that I installed Element on a Samsung Android by just downloading from the Play Store. Both without a glitch.

I can’t check possible solutions due to lack of an L5, sorry.

28

The pinephone uses Fractal for matrix communication. I imagine its in the L5 repos too.

29

https://linphone.org/
https://snikket.org/ or other XMPP (+ Jingle) client i.e. https://gajim.org
I’m not sure if Chatty supports audio/video calls yet and I’m not sure if the above GTK jabber clients listed above support adaptive UIs to fit the screen properly.

https://callcentric.com for SIP service which’ll work with Jami & LinPhone.

Purism offers a Matrix+Synapse server. Matrix (Element) by default uses https://jitsi.org/ and that projects Jitsi Meet server for video conferencing.
Jitsi is XMPP and thus one ought to be able to join calls with either protocol.

XMPP is more lightweight and standards based for both the client and server when compared to Matrix+Synapse. It’s older, mature, stable, and extensible and can do everything the trendy Matrix can do with a fraction of the resources. lol.

30

Never forget you are a Linux Guru to someone! There’s always going to be someone who knows less than you and can benefit from your help. :slightly_smiling_face:

3 Likes
31

yeah - thanks - there seems to be an issue with ARM at the moment.
So we’ll both wait. Maybe when you get your phone there will be Element client for ARM…
Cheers

1 Like
32

Never forget also that there’s always going to be someone who knows more than you. About Linux and about anything else.

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33

…so don’t feel too good about yourself.

1 Like
34

How can anyone who asks for help in a forum feel too good about themselves.
Strange development for this discussion.

35

Yes it is the one who solves someone elses query that should get that good feeling.

36

Maybe I’m mistaken, but I don’t think any of these options are for just actual phone number phone calls? Is there a way to use google voice or an alternative to make phone calls over data? I realize Voice is crap for privacy, but I need an actual phone number dialer that works over data without using minutes. Does that exist in any apps these days (preferably that also has privacy)?

I have Element on my current phone, and there’s no phone number capability. You can only message/call people that are also on the app in your contacts as far as I can see. I mean how are you guys communicating with people over this app? I know of only 2 other people that are also on this app, and they’re only on the app, because I got them to try it out.

37

Usually you need a client/app, and also a VOIP number/account from a provider, right? For instance, Linphone (https://www.linphone.org/features) combined with a service such as Callcentric. I believe Linphone also has a free communication service that’s based on “username” messaging rather than phone numbers.

Callcentric has its own client(s) for different OS also, but provides the paid dialing service as well (https://www.callcentric.com/support/device/?category=desktop).

38

Thanks for the suggestions/response…But when checking out Callcentric pricing, it appears to be about $15-20/month for 500 minutes of outgoing minutes and incoming calls? I guess for that much money, I could just increase my Tmobile minutes :confused: . Are there any cheaper or free services? Or am I getting the pricing wrong?

39

I suppose it depends on how much calling you do per month. If you get a pay-by-the-minute plan it’s quite cheap: about $3.45 per month for an incoming+outgoing account, plus 1.5 cents per minute.
(The $3.45 for incoming/outgoing includes $1.50 for E911 service, and $1.95 to receive calls.)

There are other providers out there as well.

40

I doubt that you will find a free VoIP service that interoperates with the conventional phone network. It costs a VoIP service provider real money to interoperate with the conventional phone network, so either the VoIP service provider is running at a loss, is a charity, the service is being subsidised by another service that they offer, or they are pimping you in order to cover the cost of the service.

(Needless to say that it also costs a VoIP service provider real money to provide the needed infrastructure even if the call never hits the conventional phone network.)

Therein is the problem - critical mass, the “network effect”.