Posts Tagged voip

Google Voice Competitor 3jam Arises

Posted by chi in News on August 3rd, 2009

20090803-3jam(VOICETALK.ORG) — 3jam, a San Francisco startup, has announced open beta of a new service that competes directly with Google Voice.  3jam began its debut within the SMS niche back in June 2008 with SuperText  technology to route messages to a computer or mobile device, but they have apparently shifted gears with the voice routing business model.

Many of the features duplicate that of Google Voice including call-forwarding,  visual voicemail, voicemail transcription, and SMS to email.  A few things different include:

  • Number portability which is currently proposed but not offerred by Google Voice.
  • VOIP forwarding to Skype and other IM voice services such as Yahoo Messenger.
  • International availability
  • Service Charge

As noted above, a major difference separating 3jam from that of Google Voice is the premium service charge.  The site promotes for “as little as $4.99 per month” with a 12 month committment, a 3 month bundle for $5.99 or pay per month at $8.99.  Texting plans start at $5 a month.

3jam, a new San Francisco startup, has announced open beta of a new service that competes directly with Google Voice.  3jam begain its debut in June 2008 with SuperText which utilized PresenceText technology to route messages to a computer or mobile device but has apparently shifted gears with a new business model.
Many of the features duplicate what’s already promoted by Google Voice including call-forwarding,  visual voicemail, voicemail transcription, and SMS to email.  One thing currently offerred is number portability currently proposed but not offerred by Google Voice.
The big difference, however, is that the service is not touted as free.  The site promotes for “as little as $4.99 per month” yet has no disclosure of current pricing plans.

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Gizmo5 Now Charging for Google Voice Outgoing Calls

Posted by chi in News on July 30th, 2009

2009-07-30-gizmo5(VOICETALK.ORG) — Last weekend it was too good to be true.  Gizmo5 added an entry in their account section meaning that all calls using Google Voice were free.  That is now past tense as things have changed over the course a week.  At first outgoing calls were limited to 20 minutes and then further reduced to 3 minutes.

Now, outgoing calls using Google Voice are charged at 2 cents a minute.  Now, outgoing calls are metered while incoming calls continue to be free.  This still proves to be a great bargain vs. the use of the traditional phone line but no longer as sweet.  Michael Robertson, CEO of Gizmo5 addressed the changes in an open letter:

Thanks for trying our experimental Gizmo Voice service. The viral spread of this service surprised us and we’ve received valuable feedback from many users on their experience of linking their Google Voice number to a Gizmo5 account so they can make and receive calls from wifi phones, ATAs, PC software and even a browser window using GizmoCall.com. Many of you have told us about the wide range of SIP devices you can now use to connect to Google Voice and we’re keeping a list of user suggestions of compatible wifi phones and software you might want to try out.

We’re now moving the service from Experimental to Beta and there are some important facts you should know:

* Gizmo Voice will remain a free service for Google Voice users to link their telephone number to a SIP account via Gizmo5.
* Unlimited incoming calls will be permitted to any SIP software or hardware.
* Free 3 minute calls to US numbers.
* All outbound calls will display your Google Voice CallerID.
* Longer calls will require a purchase of Gizmo5’s Call-Out which offers low per minute fees to all destinations.
* Unanswered inbound calls will use Google’s voicemail with unlimited online storage and free voicemail transcripts.


We hope you are enjoying the high quality VOIP service Gizmo5 has to offer, which includes unlimited calls to 800 numbers, other SIP networks, GoogleTalk users and even the ability to call a Skype user from any SIP device. (To test the SIP to Skype gateway call Try dialing 1-333-666-1111 which is the Skype echo line.) Gizmo5 is committed to user empowerment that comes from the use of open standards and interconnected services.

Please let me know any feedback you might have and thanks for considering Gizmo5 for your VOIP solution.

–MR

Michael Robertson
CEO, Gizmo5 Technologies, Inc

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Free VOIP Calls with Gizmo5 & Google Voice

Posted by chi in News on July 26th, 2009

2009-07-26-gizmo5Gizmo5, the VOIP service has added support for Google Voice this weekend.  Gizmo5 has now a Google Voice Calling section within the member account section.  Previously, Gizmo5 members needed to call their Gizmo5 number using their Google Voice number using a separate application.  Now, the Gizmo5 application allows for direct calls to your contacts with Google Voice showing as your caller ID.  Best of all, no callout credits are required.
It sparks interest why a VOIP provider in competition with Google Voice would allow for such direct dial using a Google Voice account.  It’s possible this collaboration might be padded by compensation by Google or they’re sweetening their service as a possible Google aquisition.
2009-07-26-gizmo5(VOICETALK.ORG) — Gizmo5, the VOIP service, has added support for Google Voice.  Starting this weekend, Gizmo5 now has a Google Voice calling area within their member account section.

How does it work?  Many of you may not have even heard of Gizmo5 which is a VOIP service that allows for unlimited incoming calls.  If you’re experienced with Google Voice, you’ll recall that when you hit the call button within your Google Voice account, it calls your phone acting as a switchboard to initiate a call between you and your contact.  So in reality, your outgoing Google Voice calls start out as an incoming call.  Gizmo5 just made it a whole lot easier to get free calls by integrating Google Voice into their members account area.

This means that (1) now, you don’t even need to have a physical landline or mobile phone to use Google Voice.

This also means (2) direct dial from Gizmo5.  Previous to this change, users of Gizmo5 needed to dial their Gizmo5 number from their Google Voice account by use of a thrid party application.  Now, the Gizmo5 application allows for direct calls to Gizmo5 contacts with the Google Voice number showing as the caller ID.  Best of all, no call out credits are required.

Adding Google Voice as an option sparks interest as to why a VOIP provider, previously seen as competing with Google Voice, would allow for use with Google Voice.  It’s possible this collaboration might be padded by compensation by Google.  Another theory is that Google may be examining Gizmo5 as a possible Google acquisition.

Gizmo5 has been an up and coming player in the VOIP field, competing with Vonage, Skype and magicJack.  Currently, Skype does not allow for validation of Google Voice numbers meaning it doesn’t support having your Caller ID show up as your Google Voice number when making outbound calls.

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