Review of Gizmo Project – Free phone for computer!

Jun 24, 2007

Gizmoproject Gizmo project is a VoIP application and an instant messenger. Gizmo uses SIP as it’s backbone of voice based calls. Apart from that Gizmo is multi IM too and allows users to chat across multiple networks like MSN & AIM and soon it will support Yahoo & Jabber too. Gizmo’s main idea is to provide voice service for free (pc to pc) and cheap rate calls to mobile or land-line phones. Lets check out the PROS & CONS of Gizmo Project in this review.

PROS of Gizmo Project :

1. Voice clarity : Gizmo project has good voice clarity and you’ll feel as if you were talking on a normal phone. It also allows you to keep a check on the voice quality of the call by displaying you the quality of the bandwidth. This allows you to decide that which applications you are going to use while using Gizmo Project, just in case you are using a slow internet connection. If you’ll have fast internet connection, then you’ll not find any problems even if you are using other applications which uses your internet connection.

2. Multiple Instant messenger : Gizmo project supports multiple messaging platform like AOL, MSN and is planning to include Yahoo and Jabber client too. So, it is one of the benefit of Gizmo that it allows you to chat with your friends who are using other networks too. Not only that it supports the voice too, i.e. you can call the people of other networks and that’s one of the best feature of Gizmo Project!

3. Various Call Features : Gizmo project has got various call features, it allows you to make PC-to-PC calls for free, PC-to-phone calls and with the help of PhoneIN service, one can receive the calls from land-line or mobile phones too. Conference call also helps a lot, when you want to talk to your friends and discuss those happy moments! Because it’s based on VoIP so the international calls are offered at very cheap rates and that’s where it helps you cut down the phone bills.

Another thing which impresses is that it allows companies to setup the network as PBX or Asterix thus allowing them to cut down the costs as every account within network can act as an phone extension! For more details check out their knowledge-base.

4. Available for multiple platforms : One of the good things about Gizmo project is that it is available for multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, Mac & its even available for Nokia phones and Treo phones. So not only you can keep it while you are using your computer but while you are using your mobile phone too.

5. Various additional features : Another feature, which impresses is the ability to record the conversations and it can be good for those who want to take interviews and for those podcasts, which you always wanted to make. File transfers, Map the location using MAP IT feature.

CONS of Gizmo Project :

1. No support for Video calls : Gizmo project doesn’t allow you to see the other person through a web-cam and this is one of the major drawback of Gizmo Project. Support for video calls or conference is must these days and I think they must release it as soon as possible in their next release.

2. User Interface is not impressive : The user interface of the windows based version is not at all impressive. It is a bit complicated and needs lots of work. It feels as if they’ve tried to make it look like Skype but were not able to get the appropriate results.

3. No support for plug ins : Well, Gizmo project must have seen the success of Skype and its major success came because of the plug ins. Plug ins ensure that third party developers can complete those features, which original developers left out. Allowing plug ins will ensure that they’ll get a good community around. So, I think they should work on this section too.

Overall rating & views : Gizmo project is a nice software with some decent set of features however, there are just few major drawbacks and they need to be fixed before we can expect that it will come anywhere near to Skype.