KPhone
Encyclopedia
KPhone is a SIP
User Agent for Linux
. It implements the functionality of a VoIP Softphone
but is not restricted to this. Licensed under the GNU General Public License
, KPhone is free software
. KPhone is written in C++
and uses Qt.
The main features:
The following media types for sessions are supported:
KPhone uses the media type application to launch communicating applications on both ends of the call. The user manual discusses the supported formats and how to install such an external application. A good example is KPhoneIM, a simple point-to-point IM application, other examples are the MICE Tools of the project MBONE
such as vic and wbd (whiteboard).
KPhone itself supports STUN
for NAT
traversal. It may be used for the buildin audio solution and for KPhoneIM immediately, other external applications may need some adaptation to make use of it. (See the user manual of KPhoneSI and of KphoneIM for more). The MICE Tools do not support symmetric signalling,so NAT-Traversal is not possible with these tools.
Further KPhone development was done at Wirlab (Seinäjoki
, Finland
) from 2001 to 2005. Wirlab's first Kphone release was published March, 13th 2002.
Since autumn 2005 KPhone is located in the Sourceforge.
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
User Agent for Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. It implements the functionality of a VoIP Softphone
Softphone
A softphone is a software program for making telephone calls over the Internet using a general purpose computer, rather than using dedicated hardware. Often a softphone is designed to behave like a traditional telephone, sometimes appearing as an image of a phone, with a display panel and buttons...
but is not restricted to this. Licensed under the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, KPhone is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
. KPhone is written in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and uses Qt.
Application
KPhone establishes Sessions via the Internet and so enables communication between the endpoints. Audio is the "session type" used most frequently, but others are possible (see below).The main features:
- Multiple parallel sessions (in the case of audio, one may be active, the others are held).
- Own ring tones or "ring music"
- NATNetwork address translationIn computer networking, network address translation is the process of modifying IP address information in IP packet headers while in transit across a traffic routing device....
-traversal and STUNSTUNSTUN is a standardized set of methods, including a network protocol, used in NAT traversal for applications of real-time voice, video, messaging, and other interactive IP communications....
support - Supported sound systems: ALSA and OSSOpen Sound SystemThe Open Sound System is an interface for making and capturing sound in Unix or Unix-like operating systems. It is based on standard Unix devices...
- SRTPSecure Real-time Transport ProtocolThe Secure Real-time Transport Protocol defines a profile of RTP , intended to provide encryption, message authentication and integrity, and replay protection to the RTP data in both unicast and multicast applications...
encryption for voice - Presence informationPresence informationIn computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner—for example a user--to communicate...
- Call Hold
- Call transferCall transferA call transfer is a telecommunications mechanism that enables a user to relocate an existing call to another phone or attendant console by using the transfer button and dialing the required location. The transferred call is either announced or unannounced....
- Call forwardingCall forwardingCall forwarding , in telephony, is a feature on some telephone networks allowing an incoming call to a called party to be redirected to a third party. For example, the third party may be a mobile telephone, voicemail box or other telephone number where the desired called party is situated. It was...
- Auto Answer
The following media types for sessions are supported:
- audio
- video (with the external application vic)
- application (used to triggerExternal Applications)
- instant messagingInstant messagingInstant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
KPhone uses the media type application to launch communicating applications on both ends of the call. The user manual discusses the supported formats and how to install such an external application. A good example is KPhoneIM, a simple point-to-point IM application, other examples are the MICE Tools of the project MBONE
Mbone
Mbone was an experimental backbone for IP multicast traffic across the Internet developed in the early 1990s. It required specialized hardware and software...
such as vic and wbd (whiteboard).
KPhone itself supports STUN
STUN
STUN is a standardized set of methods, including a network protocol, used in NAT traversal for applications of real-time voice, video, messaging, and other interactive IP communications....
for NAT
Network address translation
In computer networking, network address translation is the process of modifying IP address information in IP packet headers while in transit across a traffic routing device....
traversal. It may be used for the buildin audio solution and for KPhoneIM immediately, other external applications may need some adaptation to make use of it. (See the user manual of KPhoneSI and of KphoneIM for more). The MICE Tools do not support symmetric signalling,so NAT-Traversal is not possible with these tools.
History
KPhone was originally developed by Billy Biggs (then student at the University of Waterloo). KPhone was presented to the public at the 2nd SIP bakeoff (1999) at pulver.Further KPhone development was done at Wirlab (Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality in 1868, market town in 1931 and town in 1960...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) from 2001 to 2005. Wirlab's first Kphone release was published March, 13th 2002.
Since autumn 2005 KPhone is located in the Sourceforge.