Gizmo5 (formerly known as 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 Gizmo5 network uses open standards for call management, the Session Initiation Protocol and Jabber.[2] But it uses several proprietary codecs, and like Skype, the Gizmo5 client is proprietary/closed source software. Gizmo5 is run by the company SIPphone.
Since Gizmo5 is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), it can inter-operate 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 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 Gizmo5 software also has features that Skype lacks (or offers at an additional fee), such as interoperability with other systems/services via the SIP standard, built-in recording, and free voicemail. 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]
Unlike many of its competitors, Gizmo supports outbound caller ID in the United States,[5] where people commonly reject incoming calls from unknown numbers. Skype[6] and a few other VoIP services seem to lack this feature. [As of July 2008, Skype supports ANI/Caller ID for domestic US calls.]
Gizmo 4.0 Beta offers video calling. Gizmo5 offers gizmo on a smartphone platform.
The text chat function of Gizmo5 utilizes the Jabber protocol. Users using Gizmo5 can be reached through the Jabber protocol at username@chat.gizmoproject.com
Free calls to landline/mobile phones
Gizmo5 offers free calls from a computer to the landline/mobile phones of other Gizmo users, but with restrictions that aren't fully disclosed.[7] For example, presently only 11% of US phone numbers are eligible to receive a free Backdoor call from Gizmo.[8] As a result, accounts can switch between a qualified and unqualified status without notice.
Gizmo is available for landlines in 60 countries and mobile phones in 17 of them.[7]
Mobile phones with Gizmo5 mobile cannot make phone calls to normal (PSTN) phones without using up mobile phone plan minutes. When such calls are made, the Gizmo5 service calls the phone #s of both parties and connects the call.
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