|
SIPphone Intros Gizmo Project 1.0 and Links Google Talk
BY JOHANNE TORRES
TMCnet VoIP Minute Watch Columnist
This morning, SIPphone Inc. officially introduced the Gizmo Project 1.0 net calling software and also announced an agreement to connect to the Google Talk instant messaging (IM) network using open standards.
The software is currently available for download at the company's Web site and is Macintosh, Microsoft Windows and Linux-compatible.
SIPphone has also agreed to expand their network by linking with the Google Talk network, an IM/chatting client announced this morning. Google will first be launching the client to be compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The search giant expects to make the client Mac-compatible in the near future.
According to AP's news report Google Talk will require users to "have an account with the company's free Gmail e-mail system." Google Talk's voice chatting feature does not include PC to PSTN calling and it "requires that both the caller and recipient have speakers and a microphone hooked up to their computers. It does not currently offer an adapter to which regular phones can be connected," AP reported.
When SIPphone links its Gizmo Project with Google Talk, users will be able to IM and place voice calls among each other in future versions.
"Our goal is to link the entire world into one giant free dialing directory and joining forces with Google is a great step in that direction," said SIPphone CEO Michael Robertson. "Gizmo Project users can now call more than two dozen voice networks and 150,000 University phones using GUPS, which makes us the largest SIP based network in the world."
VoIP Minute Watch reported on the Gizmo Project last month. The client seems to almost be a Skype clone. With a calling plan called CallOut, the service even lets users call regular land line phones (PSTN) just like the SkypeOut plan. Gizmo users are also able to pick a number local to the U.S. or the U.K. as part of the Gizmo CallIn plan, which is an optional feature comparable to SkypeIn.
According to a news announcement released by SIPphone today, "many podcasters are using Gizmo Project to easily create audio shows. A call record feature makes it a one-click process to capture any conversation. Multiple hosts or guests can take advantage of the free conference calling feature so participants can be in remote locations. A new Blast feature allows for callers to play audio clips and sound effects during a call as a radio DJ would. Stock sounds are shipped with Gizmo Project but any wav file can be loaded into the software, customizing it for any audio need."
More than 20 networks and many universities such as UCSD, UCLA, BYU, UCI, UCSC, University of Indiana, Oklahoma University and MIT are linked to the SIPphone network for free calling.
SIPphone
-----
Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit:
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
