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Blink (SIP client)

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Blink
Developer(s)AG Projects
Initial releaseDecember 1, 2009 (2009-12-01)
Stable release
Blink Pro for macOS 5.2.0 (June 26, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-06-26)) [±] [1]

Blink for Windows 5.2.0 (February 27, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-02-27)) [±] [2]

Blink for Linux 5.2.0 (June 9, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-06-09)) [±] [3]

Repositoryhttps://github.com/AGProjects/blink-qt
Written inPython
Operating systemmacOS, Microsoft Windows and Linux
Size30M Cocoa version
20M Qt version
Available inEnglish
LicenseBlink License (free software versions + Shareware versions)[4]
Websiteicanblink.com

Blink is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) client distributed under the Blink license (GNU GPLv3 with an exception to permit the inclusion of commercial proprietary modules).[4][5]

The software is written in Python for macOS's Cocoa, with a later port to Qt for supporting Microsoft Windows, Linux, AmigaOS.[6][7]

Features

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Blink is based on the Session Initiation Protocol, and beyond voice over IP, its features also include video, instant messaging, file transfer and multi-party conferencing sessions based on MSRP protocol, remote desktop sharing using RFB protocol (VNC), and SIMPLE presence using XCAP protocol. Compatible with Asterix.[8]

Alternative to Skype

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According to Jason Hibbets, an Advisor at Red Hat, Blink is a popular alternative to Skype[9]

Privacy and Security

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The Linux and macOS version of Blink implement OTR protocol end-to-end encryption and peer verification for chat media.[6][10] All versions provide audio and video media encryption using ZRTP.

References

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  1. ^ "ChangeLog for Blink Pro (MacOSX version)". 17 February 2021.
  2. ^ "ChangeLog for Blink for Windows)". 17 January 2020.
  3. ^ "ChangeLog for Blink (Linux)". 17 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Help for Blink Pro and Blink Lite for OSX".
  5. ^ a b "NLnet; Blink Qt Messaging". NLnet Foundation with financial support from the European Commission. 2022-08-19. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  6. ^ "The Blink (SIP client) Open Source Project on Open Hub". Open_Hub. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  7. ^ Newton, Rusty (2014-01-30). "Installing Blink SIP client - Asterisk Project - Asterisk Project Wiki". wiki.asterisk.org. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  8. ^ Hibbets, Jason (2011-05-27). "Poll: Open source alternatives to Skype | Opensource.com". OpenSource.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  9. ^ "Download Blink". Blink Project's Website. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
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