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Google's Gizmo Project for internet telephone conversations, voicemail, buddy lists and conferencing
Also see Google Talk for instant VoIP with your friends
We downloaded and tested The Gizmo Project to see if it would co-exist with running SIP phones and found out it does. Gizmo is a free phone for your computer. Their website is here. This link opens in a new window for your convenience.
With a nice interface, this easy to use freeware gives you a long list of features which include free calls to all Gizmo users, voicemail, and mappping from caller ID. Mapping is very accurate and uses Google maps for an interesting look at exactly where your caller is. That is a unique function not found in other programs.
If you want to make calls you must fund your account. Also, if you want to receive calls from regular land line and cellular callers you must sign up for a vanity number. Both features are slightly more expensive than other providers. The program is available for Windows and Mac, with Linux due out soon they say.
Why did we test the co-existance of this software? Because we use Stanaphone with an ATA adapter and a real telephone. In fact we plug the adapter into a cordless phone. But The Gizmo Project will receive SIP - session initation protocol - voice calls from the internet. What that means for us is that Gizmo answered our internet hotline calls and showed us, via mapping, exactly where the caller was coming from. At the same time our New York City VoIP line remained free for incoming and outgoing calls. Instead of using standard ports and causing conflicts The Gizmo Project co-exists nicely even with anohter soft phone running on the same computer.
Some say The Gizmo Project has enough features to be a Skype killer. Both programs are similar but Gizmo is our preference because of caller ID mapping.
Gizmo Project uses your internet connection, either broadband or dial-up, to make calls to other computers. With the click of a mouse, you’re connected to friends, family, and colleagues anywhere on earth. It’s just that simple. You talk clearly. For as long as you want. For free. - quoted from their website --
