gizmo5
 

Hey I have never really paid that much attintion to gizmo5 project but I noticed that if you know someone with a gizmo5 account and there phone number is listed on there you can call them with gizmo5 for free to landlines and mobile. Does that include the version of the software for the tablet or just the desktop version? Also couldn't I just make a second gizmo5 account and and my friends numbers to it even if they don't have an account.

Re: gizmo5
 

Yes, it works on the tablets, but it only applies to "active" accounts, so you have to use at least 10 minutes a month (or something similar).

Re: gizmo5
 

Or if you buy call-out minutes. I added $10 six months ago, and still have $9.38 currently.

Re: gizmo5
 

There site says you can call people who have their numbers added to a gizmo account you can call for free so why would you need to add call out minutes

Re: gizmo5
 

Some (including me) use Gizmo with GrandCentral to get free incoming/outgoing calls from/to landlines. See this thread:
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ad.php?t=14536

Re: gizmo5
 

Grandcentral isn't taking new people right now.

Re: gizmo5
 

>>you can call people who have their numbers added to a gizmo account you can call for free so why would you need to add call out minutes.
<<

To call landlines.

Re: gizmo5
 

You shouldn't as far as I can tell.

Re: gizmo5
 

If you mean calling landlines free as an "active user", then maybe (can somebody verify?). But I don't have friends with gizmo account, so it won't be easy to get myself qualified. $10 for a year (probably much longer) of use is dirt cheap anyway.

Re: gizmo5
 

>>Some (including me) use Gizmo with GrandCentral to get free incoming/outgoing calls from/to landlines. See this thread:<<

I use GrandCentral too. But the underlying service that is actually calling out (including to landlines) is Gizmo. And it costs money unless you are an "active" user.

Re: gizmo5
 

I applied for a grandcentral account probably six months ago or so now and never heard a word.

gizmo works just fine and prices are (IMO) fairly reasonable.

Re: gizmo5
 

Can someone who runs both skype and gizmo on their NIT give us a comparison?

Re: gizmo5
 

>> I use GrandCentral too. But the underlying service that is
>> actually calling out (including to landlines) is Gizmo. And it
>> costs money unless you are an "active" user.

If you use the GrandCentral web interface to do your calling out (by going to the address book and clicking "call" next to one of the entries there, or using the GrandCentral dialer application, see http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ad.php?t=18802), then GrandCentral calls your Gizmo account, then calls the landline, then connects the two. So as far as Gizmo is concerned, it's totally free. I've been using it for months and I've never paid a cent.

>> Can someone who runs both skype and gizmo on their NIT give us a comparison?

I've used both, but I don't have much interesting to report. As far as call quality is concerned, they're both quite good for me. Skype seems to be a little less resource intensive for me, that's really the only difference. Since I realized that you can use Gizmo with the regular built-in Internet Call application, though, I don't run either Gizmo or Skype, I just let the build-in application log in to Gizmo for me and receive my calls that way.

Re: gizmo5
 

Sounds good. Is VideoChat still possible?

Re: gizmo5
 

>>So as far as Gizmo is concerned, it's totally free.<<

Don't think so. It is only free if the "active" status is granted (by frequent use). BTW, I do use GrandCentral. When I check Gizmo after a call starting from the GrandCentral end, I notice change of amount of $ left.

Re: gizmo5
 

I have experimented with Skype, Gizmo, and GrandCentral. The quality of each was essentially perfect as long as I had a good data rate on the WiFi connection. Once I called the United States with GrandCentral from overseas with an extremely low data and the conversation was "choppy", but we were still able to communicate.

For calls to the United States, GrandCentral is a GREAT service if you can get it. EVERYTHING is free when calling to the United States and when receiving calls (from anywhere) on your own free phone number. I made calls to the United States from the Greek Islands and everyone said that it sounded like I was "just next door". You cannot call to locations outside of the United States with GrandCentral (although that may be changing).

I bought $10 worth of time on Skype so that I could call any place in the world. I tested it with calls to several countries, and it worked perfectly. Of course, you alway have to figure out the country code etc. when calling another country. Skype minutes expire unless you use them at least once every six months. It's probably just a matter of time before I lose my $10 because I always use GrandCentral.

I have found that I can get free WiFi in any city in the world that has broadband. I simply walk through a residential neighborhood and it usually doesn't take more than a few minutes to find an unprotected WiFi connection that works. It works great for a quick email exchange and a GrandCentral phone call.

Re: gizmo5
 

Then you're doing something wrong. I defiantly do NOT have All Calls Free status on Gizmo, but I regularly make calls using GrandCentral. The point of being able to hook up GrandCentral to Gizmo is to not have to pay for Gizmo service.

Did you buy a call in number for Gizmo? Did you put THAT into your GrandCentral account, or did you put in your Gizmo SIP number as a Gizmo number?

Re: gizmo5
 

My GrandCentral calls (sending and receiving) are ALWAYS 100% free. The trick is that my outgoing calls must be initiated from the GrandCentral screen or from the GrandCentral Dialer. I am only charged if I initiate a call from Skype or Gizmo.

Re: gizmo5
 

They are fairly similar in quality. When I was evaluating them, on average, I was having more choppiness issues with Skype than Gizmo so now I use Gizmo predominantly.

I have found that with some public networks one is blocked while the other works fine. It is not one that is consistently blocked though. Either way, the blocking APs are in the vast minority. But if you run into one, download the other client and try it out. The beauty is that you don't have to use one *or* the other.

The good thing about Gizmo is that it uses the standard SIP protocol so the recent software built into the tablet (rtcomm), which has SIP support, operates with it just fine and you don't have to install anything.

With the proprietary Skype protocol, you must use their client.

Re: gizmo5
 

Sorry for posting twice... I think it´s not possible?!

Re: gizmo5
 

When I researched it a few months ago, video seemed to be totally unavailable on Skype, Gizmo, or GrandCentral.

Re: gizmo5
 

VideoChat may not be but a poster in this thread mentions:

Re: gizmo5
 

No I don't have call in no. Anyway let me do some experiment and report back.

Re: gizmo5
 

Skype-Gizmo comparison:

The audio quality is about the same, but:

- Gizmo has Video Chat to PC (you have to use Gizmo client on tablet and beta Gizmo client on PC)
- Gizmo, as mentioned above, works with GrandCentral to make free landline calls (if the planets are in alignment, and weather permits)
- Skype gets through (almost) every firewall / router / proxy / whatever, and everyone and their dog seems to have Skype.

Re: gizmo5
 

From my experience, just using rtcomm, gizmo is pretty good about firewalls/routers, too. I use gizmo at my school a lot to make free phone calls, and I haven't had any problems (One time, I even opened the gizmo5 application and made a video call!). I've used some other free public wifi to make free phone calls, too. Gizmo + GrandCentral rocks!

Re: gizmo5
 

While I typically have better call quality with Skype in marginal networks, I prefer Gizmo. I have called a pc with Gizmo and successfully used video. I like that, for a one-time fee of $4, I have caller ID, which means that land-lines see my call-in number. And I like that Gizmo is completely SIP compliant.

Re: gizmo5
 

I have used Gizmo5 tablet to tablet video a few times and I just don't understand why people aren't raving about it! I think it is fantastic, and old enough to remember Dick Tracy and his watch . . . . .The video quality ranged from very good to a tad sketchy depending on location but the audio stood up well. We were using a n810-n800 both with Diablo. I don't see it advertised as a feature where I think it would enhance users experience (and perhaps get Skype off their butt) Great experience and free is good!

Re: gizmo5
 

Yes, apparently it works great NIT to NIT. Most of us need it to do PC to NIT. :(