TeamSpeak

Pros

• Rock-solid, low-latency communication.
• A level of polish that is often lacking in competing solutions.

Cons

• The need to license the software may put some off, given the free alternatives.
• Tends to be more conservative about adding new features than other voice communication packages.

The Teamspeak client is a user-friendly program for enabling Internet-based, group voice communication. As the name suggests, Teamspeak was originally created to provide teams of competitive video game players with resource-friendly, low-latency voice communication, traits that actually make the program appropriate for a wide variety of users. Because of this, Teamspeak is today one of the most popular standalone VoIP programs of any kind.

Like most other programs which focus on bringing together more than two parties for conversation, Teamspeak does require a dedicated server. In most cases, groups of players and others who wish to communicate in this way with one another regularly will sign up for a server from a provider that offers them in turn-key configurations, although those with more technical knowledge and ambition can easily set up their own, as well. While the Teamspeak client is a free download, the server software must be licensed from the company that produces it, either by renting from an authorized provider or by making arrangements with the creator directly.

That Teamspeak is so popular and successful despite carrying a price tag speaks to the program's quality. There are alternatives, like the open-source Mumble, that can be used with no fees at all, but Teamspeak retains enough advantages over such competitors that plenty of users are glad to pay for it.

Like all such programs, Teamspeak attempts to deliver high-quality voice communication while using a minimum of bandwidth, processor time, and memory. This turns out to be a difficult thing to do, and the particular compression codecs used by the various voice communication programs on offer are therefore sources of pride and competitive advantage. Teamspeak has long been considered one of the leaders in this respect, and this remains a strong point of the software.

Teamspeak also excels in terms of user interface. Compared to the clunky Mumble alternative, Teamspeak's client seems like a slick, high-budget affair. A lot of work has gone into making sure that users can access the basics of voice communication with little trouble, but advanced users will still find it possible to easily tweak parameters and options.

Couple these advantages with rock-solid reliability, and it's easy to see why the most demanding gamers and others gravitate toward Teamspeak. Players of intense games like Eve Online, for example, where virtual battles can result in damages totaling thousands in real-world dollars, typically insist on using Teamspeak over the alternatives. While not every user will necessarily need the kind of assurances that using this top-quality communication software provides, few will find cause to complain about it, either.

Pros

• Rock-solid, low-latency communication.
• A level of polish that is often lacking in competing solutions.

Cons

• The need to license the software may put some off, given the free alternatives.
• Tends to be more conservative about adding new features than other voice communication packages.