TeamSpeak is a VoIP software that enables the user to join or create TeamSpeak chat channels in order to voice-chat over the Internet. TeamSpeak has become a very popular tool due to the fact that it offers lots of features, great stability, low latency, great support, ease of use and much more.
TeamSpeak MainTeamSpeak is a freeware program with an effortless installation process, no adware or toolbars and a self-explanatory setup.
TeamSpeak is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux but also for the mobile devices running on iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and Android and has a minimum system requirements as followed:
Windows (2000/XP/2003/2008/Vista/Win 7):
– Intel Pentium III or equivalent
– 128 MB of RAM and 50 MB free HDD space
– DirectX 8.1 or higher
Mac OS X:
– Mac OS X 10.4 or newer
– G4/G5 or Intel CPU (800 MHz recommended)
– 128 MB of RAM and 75 MB HDD space
Linux:
– Intel Pentium III or equivalent
– 128 MB of RAM and 25 MB HDD space
– X11 desktop environment
Interface
The TeamSpeak user interface offers a large array of customization options, including visual themes, icon packs and even the option of changing the window transparency. The customization doesn’t stop at the design and as you dig deeper into the options menu you notice lots of other features that can be tweaked such as notifications, security options, chat options and so much more. Even the default sound-pack can be changed, and for advanced users, TeamSpeak offers even the possibility to create add-ons for the program.
The interface is highly intuitive, as everything can be easily found and accessed even for a first-time user. Connecting with public servers is done by simply applying search filters such as country, region and city after which a list will be displayed, containing the servers that match your search criteria.
As for the list of users, there are multiple options that TeamSpeak places at your disposal in order to organize your contact list with ease, options such as setting up friends or foes and the ability to grant different levels of permission to each user.
Pros
– Easy to use, friendly and innovative user interface
– 3D sound support
– Highly customizable
– Stable
– Freeware
– Highly secure
– The possibility to create your own servers
Cons
– None worth mentioning
Alternatives
TeamSpeak is a great VoIP software and in fact it’s one of the best. However TeamSpeak is not alone in the battle for VoIP supremacy and there are a few competitors that might pose a threat.
Mumble is one of the TeamSpeak alternatives, featuring high-quality voice-chat, low latencies, the ability to create your own chatrooms and the list goes on. The Mumble interface can be personalized via skins and for those who prefer Mac or Linux, Mumble is available on both of these platforms besides Windows.
A second alternative -although not necessarily in that order- is Ventrilo, one of the veteran VoIP programs out there. The latest version of Ventrilo pretty much offers everything TeamSpeak and Mumble have to offer, Mac, Windows and Linux support plus a freeware license.
Conclusion
TeamSpeak is just brilliant and it’s one of the best VoIP programs out there, enabling the user to mass voice-chat without latency or security issues. It offers a huge amount of customization options, it’s free and it supports Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms altogether. Choosing between TeamSpeak and its biggest competitors usually comes down to a matter of taste, not performance.
