Ventrilo

Ventrilo (or Vent for short) is a proprietary VoIP software that includes text chat.

The Ventrilo client and server are both available as freeware for use with up to 8 people on the same server. Rented servers can maintain up to 400 people. The Ventrilo server is available under a limited license for Microsoft Windows and OS X and is accessible on FreeBSD Kopi, Solaris and NetBSD. The client is available for Windows and OS X. However, the OS X client is still unable to properly use most servers because of a lack of support for the sparsely used GSM codec. Flagship Industries does not offer a Linux Ventrilo client. Third party Ventrilo clients are available for mobile devices, such as Ventrilode for iPhone and Ventriloid for Android.

Ventrilo supports GSM Full Rate and Speex codecs.

Usage

Ventrilo is sometimes used by gamers who use the software to communicate with other players on the same team of a multiplayer game, or for general chat.

Criticisms

Flagship Industries Inc. only sells licenses to businesses, which may impede on those who simply want to host Ventrilo servers on arbitrary hardware.