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Filed under: Google, VoIP

It's official, Google buys Gizmo5 to provide PC to phone calls

Gizmo5 Google
A few days ago there was a nasty rumor going around that Google had just purchased Skype competitor Gizmo5. Funny thing about rumors is that sometimes they're true. Like, for instance, this one.

Gizmo5 offers a variety of tools that let users make cheap calls from a PC to a phone, or free calls from computer to computer. Google says that Gizmo5's engineers will be joining the Google Voice team. The company isn't announcing exactly what that means in terms of new features yet. But considering Google Voice currently lets you screen, receive, and record calls, I'd be shocked if Google and Gizmo5 weren't planning to add the ability to make calls.

For now, Gizmo5 has stopped accepting new user registrations, but current customers will be able to continue using the service. The same thing happened when Google acquired GrandCentral a few years ago to create the service now known as Google Voice.

Filed under: Google, VoIP

Rumor: Google buys Gizmo5, expanded VoIP service coming soon?

Gizmo5TechCrunch is reporting that Google has purchased VoIP company Gizmo5. Google has its own internet telephony service called Google Voice, which lets you route your calls to different phones, screen calls, and receive email notifications and automated transcripts of phone calls. But Google Voice doesn't let you make calls from a PC to a phone. Gizmo5 does.

If Google really has entered an agreement to acquire Gizmo5, it's a pretty safe bet that we're eventually going to see Google Voice add new features turning the service into a full-fledged Skype competitor. Gizmo already has services that let you make phone calls from a desktop client or a web site.

Gizmo5 also includes chat and video call capabilities, which would be a welcome addition to Google Voice, and which, as TechCrunch points out, would bridge the divide between Google Voice and Google Talk

Of course, right now the whole thing is just a rumor. But it's one that makes a lot of sense.

Filed under: Internet, VoIP

Call Skype users from any cellphone, VoIP phone with OpenSky

GizmoCallIf you thought that Skype was a disruptive technology because it allows users to make free or cheap voice and video calls around the world, then you ain't seen nothing yet. Because Gizmo5 just launched OpenSky, a service which lets you connect with Skype from virtually any web browser, computer, or mobile phone,.

Here's how it works. Basically OpenSky creates an alias for every Skype user. So if you want to call Skype user "echo123" (the Skype test call number), all you have to do is dial "echo123@opensky.gizmo5.com" from any SIP aware device. Want to give it a try without installing or purchasing anything? Just visit the GizmoCall web site where you can dial a number from the web using a Flash interface.

Now here's the really cool thing. Once you're signed up for a Gizmo5 account, you can also use any mobile phone to communicate with Skype users. All you have to do is send a text message to 1-941-421-9832 and start the message with the Skype user you want to send a message to. Your SMS message will show up in their chat window. If you want to make a voice call, just enter the recipient's Skype name and leave out the text message. Your phone will ring and once you pick up, you'll be connected for a voice call.

You can make OpenSky calls of up to 5 minutes for free. For $20 a year you can make calls of up to 2 hours.

[via GigaOM]

Filed under: Internet, Commercial, VoIP

Subscriptions make great presents - Holiday Gift Guide

Skype Pro
The holiday shopping season is upon us, and if you're trying to think up a few good gift ideas for your geeky or not so geeky friends and family, we're here to help. Over the next few days we'll be bringing you a number of suggestions for Download Squad style gifts.

To kick things off, I wanted to talk about a gift idea for the computer user who doesn't really need any new software: subscriptions. Nothing says I love you like a year's worth of unlimited domestic VoIP phone calls, or the security of knowing your files are securely backed up to an offsite storage space. Well, maybe not nothing, but certainly few things. Here are a few ideas for subscription based services you might want to buy for your loved ones. Feel free to add your own ideas or argue with my choice of services in the comments.

Skype

Skype provides a free way for Windows, Mac, and Linux users to make free voice or video calls to one another. But you can also buy credit or monthly subscriptions to make calls to regular telephones. You can also purchase a phone number that people can call to ring you on Skype.

Prices range from a few cents a minute for domestic calls, to $9.95 a month for unlimited international calls. For less than $36 a year you can buy a plan that will allow users to make unlimited domestic calls in the US and Canada. $60 a year will get you a SkypeIn phone number. If you purchase both an unlimited calling plan and a SkypeIn number, the price is even lower. And there are a ton of other options available.

Skype isn't the only game in town. You might also want to check out Gizmo5 or newcomer VoxOx.

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