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Project Gizmo Challenges Skype

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the opener dept.

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."

9 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. Another Michael Robertson project by dudeman2 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:Another Michael Robertson project by VivianC · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I am wondering why he is launching Gizmo before he has a version that will run on his OS? I know that Windows is the big dog, but if you own a Linux company, you might want to release a Linux version at launch.

      --
      Viv

      Gmail invites for ip
    2. Re:Another Michael Robertson project by saridder · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's great that he jumped on another technology, but all he did was create a me-too product using open source standards. What we need is new innovation in the voip world, not "me too".

      What about things like integrating with email software, so I can click on a contact and automatically call them, create video conferences as easily as I can an IM sesssion or leverage presense to know if he's on his cell phone or office phone before the client calls him. These are the types of things I'd like to see.

      --
      --- RFC 1149 Compliant.
  2. Open Standards != Open source by l2718 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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:

    At the core of Gizmo Project is a commitment to open standards
    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).
  3. Let's not forget by Swamii · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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...

    --
    Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit
  4. SIP and NAT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

  5. SIP SCHMIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Is it P2P? Does it use strong encryption? Does it have comparable voice quality? So far, the answers have been no, no, no, and that's why Skype is doing so well. There is such a thing as premature standardization.

    Although this project looks kinda interesting...

  6. Intercompatibility by Capricous · · Score: 3, 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?

  7. Re:Gizmo Interoperability by mtaht · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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....