Videoconferencing and messaging software
Jitsi (from Bulgarian: wires is a collection of free and open-source multiplatform voice (VoIP), video conferencing and instant messaging applications for the web platform, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android.[4][5][6][7] The Jitsi project began with the Jitsi Desktop (previously known as SIP Communicator). With the growth of WebRTC, the project team focus shifted to the Jitsi Videobridge for allowing web-based multi-party video calling. Later the team added Jitsi Meet, a full video conferencing application that includes web, Android, and iOS clients. Jitsi also operates meet.jit.si, a version of Jitsi Meet hosted by Jitsi for free community use. Other projects include: Jigasi, lib-jitsi-meet, Jidesha, and Jitsi.[8][9][10]
Jitsi has received support from various institutions such as the NLnet Foundation,[11][12] the University of Strasbourg and the Region of Alsace,[13] the European Commission[14] and it has also had multiple participations in the Google Summer of Code program.[15][16]
Work on Jitsi (then SIP Communicator) started in 2003 in the context of a student project by Emil Ivov at the University of Strasbourg.[17] It was originally released as an example video phone in the JAIN-SIP stack and later spun off as a standalone project.[18]
In 2009, Emil Ivov founded the BlueJimp company, which has employed some of Jitsi's main contributors,[19][20] in order to offer professional support and development services[21] related to the project.
In 2011, after successfully adding support for audio/video communication over XMPP's Jingle extensions, the project was renamed to Jitsi since it was no longer "a SIP only Communicator".[22][23] This name originates from the Bulgarian "" (wires).[24]
Jitsi introduced the Videobridge in 2013 to support multiparty video calling with its Jitsi clients using a new Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) architecture. Later that year initial support was added to the Jitsi Videobridge allowing WebRTC calling from the browser. To demonstrate how Jitsi Videobridge could be used as a production service, BlueJimp offered a free use of its hosted system at meet.jit.si.[25]
On November 4, 2014, "Jitsi + Ostel" scored 6 out of 7 points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's secure messaging scorecard. They lost a point because there has not been a recent independent code audit.[26]
On February 1, 2015, Hristo Terezov, Ingo Bauersachs and the rest of the team released[27] version 2.6 from their stand at the Free and Open Source Software Developers' European Meeting 2015 event in Brussels. This release includes security fixes, removes support of the deprecated MSN protocol, along with SSLv3 in XMPP. Among other notable improvements, the OSX version bundles a Java8 runtime, enables echo cancelling by default, and uses the CoreAudio subsystem. The Linux build addresses font issues with the GTK+ native look and feel, and fixes some long-standing issues about microphone level on call setup when using the PulseAudio sound system. This release also adds the embedded Java database Hyper SQL Database to improve performance for users with huge configuration files, a feature which is disabled by default. A full list of changes is available on the project web site.[28]
Atlassian acquired BlueJimp on April 5, 2015. After the acquisition, the new Jitsi team under Atlassian ceased meaningful new development work on the Jitsi Desktop project and expanded its efforts on projects related to the Jitsi Videobridge and Jitsi Meet. Regular contributions from the open source community have maintained the Jitsi Desktop project.[29][30][31]
In 2017, jitsi was added as a widget to element.[32]
In October 2018, 8x8 acquired Jitsi from Atlassian.[33]
The Jitsi open source repository on GitHub currently contains 132 repositories. The major projects include:[34]
Jitsi Meet is an open source JavaScript WebRTC application used primarily for video conferencing. In addition to audio and video, screen sharing is available, and new members can be invited via a generated link. The interface is accessible via web browser or with a mobile app.[38] The Jitsi Meet server software can be downloaded and installed on Linux-based computers.[39] Jitsi owner 8x8 maintains a free public-use server for up to 100 participants at meet.jit.si.[40]
Key features of Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Videobridge is a video conferencing solution supporting WebRTC that allows multiuser video communication. It is a Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) and only forwards the selected streams to other participating users in the video conference call, therefore, CPU horsepower is not that critical for performance.[43][44]
Jitsi spawned some sister projects such as the Jitsi Videobridge Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) and Jitsi Meet, a video and web conferencing application. To prevent misunderstanding due to the increasing popularity of these other Jitsi projects, the Jitsi client application was rebranded as Jitsi Desktop.
Originally the project was mostly used as an experimentation tool because of its support for IPv6.[45][46] Through the years, as the project gathered members, it also added support for protocols other than SIP.
Jitsi Desktop is no longer actively maintained by the Jitsi team, but it is still maintained by the community.[35]
Features
Jitsi supports multiple operating systems, including Windows as well as Unix-like systems such as Linux, Mac OS X and BSD. The mobile apps can be downloaded on the App Store for iOS and on the Google Play Store and F-droid platform for Android.[47] It also includes:[48]
In an April 2020 test of video conferencing services, US product review website Wirecutter recommended Jitsi Meet as one of its two picks (after the more feature-rich Cisco Webex which it found preferable for large groups and enterprises), stating that Jitsi was "easy to use and reliable" and that "in our testing, the video quality and audio quality were both greatnoticeably sharper and crisper than on Zoom or Webex".[53]
In a follow up review in November 2020 Wirecutter lowered its previous rating, stating that Jitsi was, other than Google Hangouts, "the best, easiest-to-use free services you can find", but also pointed out that "the video and audio quality were both acceptable, though our panelists rated them among the lowest of all the services we tested".[54]
Jitsi has been well adopted in not-for-profit tech sector as default alternative to corporate tools. In mid March 2020 popular Lyon-based tech NGO Framasoft reported that their Jitsi servers were even overloaded by use of state institutions. Jitsi has been test-used as Wikimedia Meet in Wikimedia Foundation on Wikimedia Cloud Services since spring 2020, with high adoption rates initially but mixed reviews.[55]
Read more here:
- Jitsi - Business VoIP Phone Service | OnSIP - April 26th, 2014 [April 26th, 2014]
- Softonic - Jitsi - Download - April 26th, 2014 [April 26th, 2014]
- The Architecture of Open Source Applications: Jitsi - April 26th, 2014 [April 26th, 2014]
- Jitsi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - April 26th, 2014 [April 26th, 2014]
- FLOSS Weekly 293: Jitsi Meet - Video - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- Jitsi Overview: FLOSS Weekly 293 - Video - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- NetSecDemo Secure FTP over Jitsi - Video - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- Eliyah Moore, Barum Jiu Jitsi Vs Cahel Gonzalez, 5 Star Martial Arts - Video - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Jitsi (Mac) - Download - Softonic - August 31st, 2014 [August 31st, 2014]
- Using XMPP chat with Jitsi - Video - September 12th, 2014 [September 12th, 2014]
- Jitsi - SIP Softphone - Video - September 12th, 2014 [September 12th, 2014]
- The Luminosity of Free Software Episode 20 - Video - September 13th, 2014 [September 13th, 2014]
- FOSDEM 2014 - Jitsi Videobridge And Webrtc - Video - September 16th, 2014 [September 16th, 2014]
- Just Linux touch screen and Jitsi - Video - September 16th, 2014 [September 16th, 2014]
- Bitcoin and dark wallet could be used by terrorists. So what? - September 24th, 2014 [September 24th, 2014]
- Top messaging apps flat-out flunk EFF's security review - November 5th, 2014 [November 5th, 2014]
- When I say join me in a jitsi meet... - Video - November 7th, 2014 [November 7th, 2014]
- Jitsi Flasms Dogfooding: Using your own imperfect solutions helps improve them, - Video - November 10th, 2014 [November 10th, 2014]
- IETF91 chairs meeting Honolulu Jitsi Meet presentation - Video - November 17th, 2014 [November 17th, 2014]
- IETF91 chairs meeting Honolulu Jitsi Meet questions - Video - November 17th, 2014 [November 17th, 2014]
- jitsi videollamada - Video - December 26th, 2014 [December 26th, 2014]
- Your first OTR text chat with Jitsi - Video - December 31st, 2014 [December 31st, 2014]
- Skype Encrypted Alt. SIP Jitsi Combo - February 7th, 2015 [February 7th, 2015]
- Jitsi Wikipdia - February 7th, 2015 [February 7th, 2015]
- Jitsi for Mac | MacUpdate - Apple Mac OS X Software & Apps ... - February 11th, 2015 [February 11th, 2015]
- Nexi Unified Communication Jitsi Presentazione full - Video - February 19th, 2015 [February 19th, 2015]
- JITSI - Video - April 8th, 2015 [April 8th, 2015]
- Jitsi Configuration and Review - November 21st, 2015 [November 21st, 2015]
- Jitsi: A Multi-Protocol, Cross Platform Compatible Chat, Call ... - November 21st, 2015 [November 21st, 2015]
- Jitsi (Build 3132) - Business VoIP Phone Service | OnSIP - November 21st, 2015 [November 21st, 2015]
- Jitsi | Tiki Suite - March 26th, 2016 [March 26th, 2016]
- Jitsi - - January 28th, 2017 [January 28th, 2017]
- Jitsi for Mac - Download - jitsi.en.softonic.com - February 5th, 2017 [February 5th, 2017]
- Jitsi | Prometheism.net - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- GitHub - jitsi/jitsi-meet: Jitsi Meet - Secure, Simple and ... - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Edward Snowden's New Job: Protecting Reporters From Spies - WIRED - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Snowden helping develop tools to protect journalists and whistleblowers - 'to make the game a little more fair' - Press Gazette - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Jitsi - Download - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Jitsi Meet - Android Apps on Google Play - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Jitsi for Mac OS X Secure instant messaging and VoIP - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- How to Configure and Set-Up Jitsi - Liberty Under Attack - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Jitsi PediaView.com | Prometheism.net - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Provisioning | Jitsi | Prometheism.net - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Provisioning | Jitsi - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- FAQ | Jitsi | Prometheism.net - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Tsirang vegetable vendors commit to selling local chillies - Kuensel, Buhutan's National Newspaper - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- FAQ | Jitsi | Prometheism.net euvolution.com - July 3rd, 2017 [July 3rd, 2017]
- FAQ | Jitsi | Futurist Transhuman News Blog | Prometheism.net - July 4th, 2017 [July 4th, 2017]
- Jitsi Meet (advanced) Projects | Prometheism.net - July 6th, 2017 [July 6th, 2017]
- FAQ | Jitsi | Prometheism.net euvolution.com | Futurist - July 6th, 2017 [July 6th, 2017]
- Jitsi | Futurist Transhuman News Blog - prometheism.net - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Gladstone gold does club proud | Gladstone Observer - Gladstone Observer - July 18th, 2017 [July 18th, 2017]
- Jitsi softphone for Windows OnSIP Support - July 26th, 2017 [July 26th, 2017]
- Jitsi for Mac : Free Download : MacUpdate - August 1st, 2017 [August 1st, 2017]
- OpenFire Jitsi as Skype(desktop sharing) and Temviewer ... - February 9th, 2018 [February 9th, 2018]
- Jitsi Download - softpedia.com - March 29th, 2018 [March 29th, 2018]
- Jitsi Meet (advanced) Projects - June 14th, 2018 [June 14th, 2018]
- Jitsi (Build 3132) - OnSIP - November 9th, 2018 [November 9th, 2018]
- Download Jitsi 2.10.5550 - softpedia.com - November 9th, 2018 [November 9th, 2018]
- Jitsi Community Forum - November 9th, 2018 [November 9th, 2018]
- FAQ | Jitsi - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Jitsi for Windows - Secure Instant Messaging and VoIP - February 12th, 2019 [February 12th, 2019]
- How to Create Your Own Video Conference Server using Jitsi ... - March 6th, 2019 [March 6th, 2019]
- What is Jitsi? - open source video conferencing API's ... - April 9th, 2019 [April 9th, 2019]
- 8x8 Acquires Jitsi Video Communications Technology From ... - April 15th, 2019 [April 15th, 2019]
- Latest users topics - Jitsi Community Forum - developers & users - April 15th, 2019 [April 15th, 2019]
- Jitsi - Should I Remove It? - April 20th, 2019 [April 20th, 2019]
- Appear.in Vs. Jitsi: Subscription WebRTC Faces Off Against Open-Source VC - VC - VC Daily - November 18th, 2019 [November 18th, 2019]
- Philippines eyes fitting end to best SEA Games performance ever - Sports Interactive Network Philippines - December 12th, 2019 [December 12th, 2019]
- Fox Sports 1 Dials Up VCC for The Herd With Colin Cowherd - TV Technology - December 21st, 2019 [December 21st, 2019]
- Fox Sports 1 Utilized Video Call Center to Extend Reach of Shows Like The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Sports Video Group - December 21st, 2019 [December 21st, 2019]
- GoodFirms Discloses the Most Recommended Software of 2020 to Streamline the Business Work Processes - Yahoo Finance - February 23rd, 2020 [February 23rd, 2020]
- How The Coronavirus Is Forcing Italy To Become A Digital Country, At Last - Forbes - March 16th, 2020 [March 16th, 2020]
- Here's how Zoom is fixing all of those security issues - The Union Journal - April 12th, 2020 [April 12th, 2020]
- Five Zoom alternatives to combat social isolation with video chat - The Star Online - April 12th, 2020 [April 12th, 2020]
- Zoom Has Privacy Issues, Here Are Some Alternatives - CoinDesk - April 12th, 2020 [April 12th, 2020]
- This is Jitsi Meet, the open source video calling application that the Government uses to prepare for press conferences - Explica - April 12th, 2020 [April 12th, 2020]
- Zoom security: I've researched problems with video conferencing for years here's what you need to know - The Conversation UK - May 3rd, 2020 [May 3rd, 2020]
- Group video calls of up to 100 participants, with encryption and noise cancellation - Explica - May 3rd, 2020 [May 3rd, 2020]
- The best Skype alternatives for video calls on your smartphone - AndroidPIT - May 3rd, 2020 [May 3rd, 2020]