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Project Gizmo Challenges Skype
valmont writes "The Register is offering an interesting introduction to Project Gizmo, a new player in the Voice over IP field, poised to challenge Skype with its ability to interoperate with others thanks to the SIP protocol it complies to. Whereas Skype has selectively licensed usage of an API that offers limited insight into a closed protocol, a closed ecosystem solely controlled by one organization, the SIP protocol is open. Free open-source proxy/server implementations are sprouting up, and many developers are actively working on SIP clients. The Gizmo Project is the first to bring a truly-usable, user-friendly, cross-platform SIP client (Mac, Windows, Linux coming soon) to market. Meanwhile, theappleblog.com is already offering a Gizmo Project Wish-List to promote better interoperability between current and upcoming SIP providers, to make it more practical for users of disparate SIP clients to communicate with one another."
Michael Robertson of MP3.com and the Linux distro formerly known as Lindows. Say what you want about the guy, he's a very good self promoter and knows when to jump on a new technology. This should be interesting to watch.
Having competing standards and companies in the field will make for better services for the users. Open standards are great, since they improve interoperability and reliability. For example, people can writing their own clients, etc.
However, the project is not open-source. At least, their about us page doesn't mention it. They only say:
Methinks someone at the Register got confused. Those other clients written may be open-source or even free software, but the client they offer surely isn't. Their server software is not even offered for download (nor should it necessarily be -- that's what they want to make the money off, of course).Stanaphone.com is the FIRST usable multi-platform SIP application. They offer more free things than Skype does (it's a real telephone number for example, for free). Quality is not that great though, I prefer Gizmo's.
Credit where credit is due: Project Gizmo is yet another invention of Mp3.com creator, Lindows/Linspire creator, long-time enemy of Microsoft Michael Robertson.
Can't remember his connection to SCO, though...
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SIPs achillies heel is its inability to play nice once NAT and/or firewalls are added to the equation.
For me Skype's most important feature is its ability to play nice with firewalls and NAT.
Although this project looks kinda interesting...
Finally a solution for Linux gamers that will actually be a reality. Solutions like Teamspeak (which doesn't work with ALSA and isn't even open source) don't work very well. It's exciting to finally hear that Linux gamers and Windows gamers can finally listen and talk to each other soon on one free client. Anyone use any teamspeak-like client on Linux to talk to other gamers on Windows and both can use the soundout without using ARTS or other similar methods?
SIP devices still have the problem of routing correctly through firewalls and the like. True P2P telephony is difficult with SIP, due to this. Skype gets around it by using their proprietary protocol. The much simpler and cleaner and far more open IAX2 protocol (a feature of the open source asterisk pbx) is being used by some devices to get around SIP limitations while still retaining (or exceeding) SIP voice quality. At least one IAX2 provider, firefly, gets it - (https://www.virbiage.com/products.php) calls to their network are automatically switched to the other user, getting the middleman out of the loop, and dramatically improving voice quality. Example - I place a call to a friend a block on vonage via vonage on comcast, and the packets get routed through about 17 routers, with a delay of 80ms - to get up the street. I place the same call via firefly - one router, and a delay of 25ms. Yes, theres windows, mac, and Linux clients. Also clients for most unixen, and several embedded devices....
Some "ISPs" (eg UK Universities) have banned the use of Skype because of concerns about the "P2P" aspects of it - i.e. becoming a supernode. Their concern is both about bandwidth, but even more about the terms of the EULA.
"Gizmo" _seems_ to be free of such problems, and if that is so it could be a great advantage.
True that "Project Gizmo" is software and "The Gizmo" is hardware, but given how companies value names, I wouldn't be totally surprised if someone from SunRocket eventually notices this.
Is it a collision in the same market, though?
Given both Gizmo devices are used for VOIP, I'd worry about collision. While the actual "gizmo" differs, they both fill part of the VOIP solution.
BTW, I use SunRocket (replaced my home phone for $199 USD for unlimited service for 1 year) and their material highlights the Gizmo as the center of their offering.
Hi, I've really wanted to get a SIP phone/service but I'm very worried about security. Not only are the actual connections not encrypted but even the number I'm dialing from/to. Why don't all these VOIP companies use some sort of encryption? Are there any good ones that do?
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If you sign-up for Skype you can't make outgoing calls to cell phones or landlines, you need to get credit to do this and its a big jump for the average joe.
Although its a very small thing, its great to see project gizmo offer 25c worth of credit.
It allows the average joe to get their feet wet and they'll be more likely to make the jump and buy credit once they see how great it can be.
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Repeat after me - security architecture must be open in order to be secure.
Skype developers saying they use 32768 bit keys means absolutely zero if you cannot verify that.
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