Version 1.1.4 of Mumble, the premier open-source VoIP group-chat system has been released.

Mumble now officially supports Windows, Linux and Macs (OSX i386 & PPC)

Mumble is similar to gaimg VoIP systems such as Teamspeak, Roger-Wilco and Ventrillo but incorporates the lastest high-quality Speex codec which allows for crystal-clear sound and automatic gain control.

In software terms, Mumble is the client component and Murmur is the server. Mumble allows for a graphics overlay when full-screen gaming to show who is talking. There is also provision for communication between Mumble and game engines to allow automatic changing of teams and in-game ‘spatial’ voice.

Bill Vincent has written a review of the popular multi-user voip program Ventrillo over at WinExtra.com.

Ventrillo is commonly used by online gamers as audio communication for in-game team co-ordination. It supports multiple people on a single ‘channel’ and operates in a client/server model with the server able to provide multiplexed audio streams for all users.

Ventrillo servers are typically hosted on high-bandwidth hardware in data centres close to a given group of game player’s real world geographic locations to allow for good performance.

You can real Bill Vincents full review HERE.