I'm so tired of articles how bad/evil/insecure Skype is, while not suggesting any usable alternative. Skype, whether you like it or not, has no viable competition, almost 8 years after its initial release. By "usable" I have the following requirements in mind:

* Cross platform: It has to offer clients for Linux, Win, OSX.

* It has to support voice and video.

* Easy to install: Even grandparents in Australia have to bee able to install it. No NAT and other configuration bullshit, just enter a name, a password and ready to go.

Skype has helped connect my all over the world scattered family for more than half a decade now. I am absolutely willing to give up any kind of privacy and security in order to be able to video-phone my family living thousands of miles apart whenever I want at absolutely no cost. No, absolutely no free software system has yet been able to provide the above 3 minimum requirements for me to consider ever leaving skype.

P.S. Thanks for the immediate downvotes.