What is current situation with Skype (and alternatives) for win-98?Ed

[Nomen]

Today I started skype and got a message that auto-login didn't work. The message said that my password might have been changed (or was changed) from an alternate location, and I need to log in using the new password.

I understand that skype has been forcing people to upgrade to newer versions, but this old version I use (3.2.0.175) was working fine yesterday or a few days ago. I've been unable to get this same version working on another win-98 machine that I have very rarely used for skype, so I'm not sure if they've permenantly made this version unworkable now.

So - does anyone else out there still have skype working on their win-98 system? If so, what version?

I understand (vaguely) that there are other alternatives to skype, and would like to know which of them work under win-98.

Edit: I've tried setting up a new skype username, and I'm using a throw-away email address. When I try to start skype using the new account, I get: Skype may be blocked on your network. Contact your network administrator, or (2) make sure skype is allowed on your network.

Given this is win-98, there is no firewall on this computer, but I'm also not forwarding any ports for skype on my router. But I understand that skype doesn't require any ports to be forwarded (because of how it spoofs connections) - and my current setup was working until a few days ago.

I understand that these old versions of skype connect to a different database run by Skype, and perhaps they've finally closed down the servers for those databases? Either that, or Skype doesn't like it when I use a throw-away email service... (?)

Edited September 13, 2014 by Nomen

[loblo]

I don't do VoIP so I don't really know but if I did I'd I'd try MicroSIP or Phoner/Phoner Lite.

[Nomen]

Um - Skype is not voip.

[loblo]

Um - Skype is not voip.

 

[Nomen]

So - nobody here uses (or did use) Skype with win-98 then...

[jaclaz]

Um - Skype is not voip.

 

 

To be fair, "real" hardware VoIP phones and "plain" Softphones using SIP tend to actually work , that may be a diffference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VoIP_phone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_VoIP_software

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softphone

 

jaclaz

[schwups]

I just started Skype 3.5.0.239 and it runs here again. hosts file: 127.0.0.1 ui.skype.com  

It recently discussed in the Win2000 forum (http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/161614-skype-61-on-windows-2000/page-2#entry1083424)