How To Install GNU Ring in Ubuntu (The Free Replacement for Skype)

GNU Ring (https://ring.cx) is a free as in freedom and open source replacement for any of Skype-like internet communication platforms. Ring is a voice and video call program, chatting, and in the same time VoIP client, with point-to-point-encryption model to ensure your privacy and security at maximum rate. It is available in mobile (Android) and desktop platforms (Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux). Now GNU Ring is available for Ubuntu 15.10, 16.04, and 16.10. This article gives you step by step instructions to install GNU Ring on Ubuntu.

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How To Install

Choose one from instructions below according to your Ubuntu version.  Open your Terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T) and then copy one line by one line of the 4 commands. See picture below to make sure you know the steps clearly. This picture demonstrates the installation step by step in Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak.

Ubuntu 15.10

1. sudo sh -c "echo 'deb https://dl.ring.cx/ring-nightly/ubuntu_15.10/ ring main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ring-nightly-man.list"
2. sudo apt-key adv --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys A295D773307D25A33AE72F2F64CD5FA175348F84
3. sudo add-apt-repository universe sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ring

Ubuntu 16.04

1. sudo sh -c "echo 'deb https://dl.ring.cx/ring-nightly/ubuntu_16.04/ ring main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ring-nightly-man.list"
2. sudo apt-key adv --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys A295D773307D25A33AE72F2F64CD5FA175348F84
3. sudo add-apt-repository universe sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ring

 

Ubuntu 16.10

1. sudo sh -c "echo 'deb https://dl.ring.cx/ring-nightly/ubuntu_16.10/ ring main' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ring-nightly-man.list" 
2. sudo apt-key adv --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys A295D773307D25A33AE72F2F64CD5FA175348F84 sudo add-apt-repository universe 
3. sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ring

Placing Ring Shortcut on Launcher

You can place the GNU Ring icon on the vertical panel ("Launcher") by running it and ring-click its icon > Lock to Launcher like this.