Company: Gizmo
Launched: June 30, 2005
What is it?
Gizmo is like skype but is built on open source. It’s available for Mac and Windows (3.1 mb download on windows), with a Linux version promised in August.
A problem with Skype is that it is a closed silo - it will not interconnect with other VOIP systems. Gizmo, however, is built on the open source, standards-based net calling program built by SIPphone. According to Gizmo, there are over 100 applications peering with SIPphone technology (link).
Gizmo has nearly every feature that Skype has, plus a few really cool things Skype doesn’t do. It does lack instant messaging, however. Once it has that, it will be superior to what Skype offers today, and at a much lower price. Here is a feature-by-feature comparison:
We tested a call earlier today and the quality was on par or better than Skype. The user interface is slick and very much what people are used to seeing with Skype and IM clients:
There is no set limit to the number of callers, but they recommend only 4 (or more if people are on mute): “Technically, there is no limit to the number of people that can conference call together on the Gizmo Project system. We have found that as a practical limit, the sound quality degrades once you have more than 4 people. You can get around this limitation by having people put thier Gizmo Project’s on mute while they’re not talking. Using this system of putting everyone on mute, we have had successfull conference calls with as many as 28 people in 11 countries.” Link
Key features:
- open source
- works on SIP standard
- works with any WiFi SIP phone
- free voicemail
- call record (awesome)
- Call in from POTS
- Call out to POTS
- map call location
The “map call” feature is really cool. Clicking on it during a call pulls up a map with lines across the globe showing caller locations:
Call In and Call Out Features:
Management:
Michael Robertson
Links:
About
Learn more
Help
Discussion Forum
Michael Robertson
Doc Searls
AroundMyRoom
Om Malik
JKontheRun
Chris Holland’s Gizmo Wishlist
Tags: gizmo, techcrunch, web2.0, voip, skype, gizmoproject, michaelrobertson
Nice review of our software.. Very thorough..
Gizmo Project has more surprises to come..
I use Skype a lot to do interviews for live and recorded network radio broadcast and podcast (www.pocketplanetradio.com - there’s one up there recorded with an internet cafe in hyderabad) so Gizmo is of great interest.
Chief concern is call quality - I’ve used skype to do live shows on the radio and it is I think better than a POTS call over a $2000+ Telos Xport codec. BUT it’s still not up there with ISDN. As I understand it Skypes system is at least partially distributed - Gizmo’s server based - so I wonder if once the number of people using Gizmo increases the call quality won’t suffer?
Secondly much as we hate to acknowledge such things Skype has a good first mover advantage - and their directory is a great resource for broadcasters looking for ordinary folk in hard to reach parts of the world.
The recording is a nice touch - somebody described it as a podcasters dream - to be honest I think relying on an automated system to balance calls is a bit iffy if you are looking to use them for broadcast. I’d always recommend buying a mixer and throwing the call into a separate recorder - one that isn’t prone to crashes.
Anyway I’m keen to give Gizmo the benefit of the doubt - if anyone is interesting in doing a few trials for a podcast review drop me a line editor-at-pocketplanetradio.com will reach me.
good!
According to a comment by a Michael Robertson in this thread, Gizmo is NOT open source:
http://gigaom.com/2005/07/04/g.....after-all/
(although I guess it may be “built on” open source)
Wireless World: Enormous innovation, but big challenges
A record number of mobile phones were shipped last year, and analysts and investors are now saying that the promises made 10 years ago about the potential for the wireless economy are truly being realized. Still, some of the foremost investors and analysts tell United Press International’s Wireless World that they are nervous that the United States may not maintain its competitive edge in the global information economy unless certain changes are made — by federal policymakers and business leaders — soon.
“There is enormous innovation in our economy — no doubt,” said James Melcher, founder of the New York City-based hedge fund, Balestra Capital Management, in an interview with Wireless World. “It’s incredible. But there are problems. Why are countries with only 40 percent of the world’s population (e.g., China) graduating ten times as many engineers and scientists as we are? Why are our schools pumping out so many lawyers? There is no value-added in legal work.” By Gene Koprowski
I hold Nigella Lawson entirely responsible for making me think that food is sexy. Here I want to emphasize that I am not talking about Nigella herself being sexy, which she most certainly is.
看了你的博客, 你的很多观点很是赞同，文笔也不错 幸会，幸会！！！
我有一个[url=http://www.vide.cn/]视频会议[/url]的网站希望能和您交换连接!
网站名称:视频会议
静待您的佳音QQ:2514527477!
愿一个小小的连接,却能成为我们之间友谊的桥梁!
Good site.
Hi I am a Skype caster and the service is ceasing as from Monday. Do you have anything like Skypecasts? I would also like to know if there is a monthly charge . Also is there a charge for computer to computer calls?
I have been dissatisfied with the quality of computer to computer calls on many occasions. Is the quality any better with this set up ? How do I dowload the System ?