Gizmo Project
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Developer: | SIPphone |
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| Latest release: | 2.0.3.233 (Windows) / November 16, 2006 |
| OS: | Mac OS X, Linux, Windows, Nokia 770 |
| Use: | peer-to-peer internet telephony |
| License: | Freeware |
| Website: | gizmoproject.com/ |
Gizmo Project is the name of a peer-to-peer VoIP network and of a proprietary freeware soft phone for that network.
Gizmo Project was founded by Michael Robertson.[1] Unlike its competitor network Skype, the Gizmo Project network uses open standards for call management, the Session Initiation Protocol and Jabber.[2] But it uses several proprietary codecs, and the Gizmo Project client is closed source like Skype. The Gizmo Project is run by the company SIPphone.
Since the Gizmo Project is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), it can interoperate with other SIP-based networks directly, although some data will always be routed via central SIPphone-servers, making it less than ideal in these settings from a privacy and security perspective [3]. This includes the popular PBX program Asterisk, the Earthlink service, and Ekiga. This avoids the phone system and is thus free of charge. Gizmo also will use encryption (SRTP) for Gizmo to Gizmo calls and works well with Phil Zimmermann's new Zfone secure add on.
The Gizmo Project software also has features that Skype lacks, or offers at an additional fee. Interoperability with other systems and services via the SIP standard, built-in recording and free voicemail are the main advantages that Gizmo has over Skype. Gizmo also allows paid members of LiveJournal to make 'voiceposts' if they are unable to use the voicepost telephone lines provided by the website.[4]
The text chat function of Gizmo Project utilizes the Jabber protocol. Users using Gizmo can be reached through the Jabber protocol at username@chat.gizmoproject.com
[edit] Free calls to landline/mobile phones
The Gizmo project offers free calls from a computer to the landline/mobile phones of other Gizmo users. However, there are strings attached and some people have reported that it stops working after a while. This service is available for landlines in 60 countries and mobile phones in 17 of them.
