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2007-12-13
, 22:39
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Posts: 5,795 |
Thanked: 3,151 times |
Joined on Feb 2007
@ Agoura Hills Calif
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#12
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How would I go about forcing my friends in Moscow who already use Skype in their business to switch to Gizmo? Do you think I could get Vladimir Putin to send a couple of flatheads to roust them?
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2007-12-13
, 22:44
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Posts: 708 |
Thanked: 125 times |
Joined on Jan 2007
@ Too Close To D.C
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#13
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You can also make FREE outbound calls with Gizmo via GrandCentral Mobile. Any phone number you have in your address book in GrandCentral can be dialed via GrandCentral Mobile. Also anyone who calls your GrandCentral number will be displayed as a number you can call back, all FREE!!
I use it all the time to call back to the states when traveling overseas.
I use it all the time to call back to the states when traveling overseas.
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2007-12-13
, 23:41
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Posts: 322 |
Thanked: 28 times |
Joined on Feb 2007
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#14
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Originally Posted by janozaurus
I understand your sentiment. I think people tend to 'fall in love' with what has proven to be reliable and widely used. I think Skype has mostly been those things dispite terrible customer service. I have used both Skype and Gizmo on my N800 and for me Skype has been reliable call quality and Gizmo has not. But this is with the older firmware. I'll be quite interested to try these services with the 08 firmware. I also didn't like that Gizmo wipes out your unused outcall credit after 180 days. I guess this is not a huge problem for most people since they probably use most of their credit. I only used half of my credit, so in effect it ended up costing me over 4 cents a minute to call land lines. If your calls are mostly to other (Gizmo or Skype calls to same system) users, I suggest not buying any outcall credit because you will probably do better even just using a calling card at a land phone. Skype has had the resources to put together the capability to offer nearly normal phone service for the home at now about $95 per year in the US. This is because of the new Skype phones that use a modem directly connected to your high speed internet rather than any use of your computer or N800. I really wish more companies like Gizmo or Yahoo would do this to give Skype some competition in this area. Skype is now three times as costly here in the US as it was last year.
If SIP (Gizmo) works better, why even consider proprietary Skype? I never understand why people must always fall in love with companies like Skype?
But I'm rooting for open source phone service like SIP also. Bottom line though- I need reliability.
NS
Last edited by sungrove; 2007-12-13 at 23:44.
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2007-12-14
, 00:00
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Posts: 1,310 |
Thanked: 820 times |
Joined on Mar 2006
@ Irving, TX
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#15
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@ Sungrove:
You can use *any* SIP compatible phone adapter with Gizmo Project service. I do have one Grandstream phone adapter chained with my Vonage VoIP adapter... so I can actually use both my "regular" Vonage landline AND Gizmo Project phone with my standard phone. If someone calls me on Vonage or Gizmo, the same phone rings. (And that is online 24/7, unlike my computer.)
Also my relatives in Finland have Gizmo project accounts with Grandstream VoIP phones. So they are always reachable as well. One of them purchased call out credit last time in February and it still hasn't expired. (Isn't it over 180 days yet?) She uses the Gizmo service to call landlines in Finland because it is a lot cheaper than using the cell phone (many people in Finland do not have landlines any more...)
So, the Skype really doesn't offer much benefits, other than:
- Great sound (frequency bandwidth goes much higher than Gizmo, I believe?)
- Just works (TM) on computers, since it finds a way to get around firewalls, etc...
- Encryption?
You can use *any* SIP compatible phone adapter with Gizmo Project service. I do have one Grandstream phone adapter chained with my Vonage VoIP adapter... so I can actually use both my "regular" Vonage landline AND Gizmo Project phone with my standard phone. If someone calls me on Vonage or Gizmo, the same phone rings. (And that is online 24/7, unlike my computer.)
Also my relatives in Finland have Gizmo project accounts with Grandstream VoIP phones. So they are always reachable as well. One of them purchased call out credit last time in February and it still hasn't expired. (Isn't it over 180 days yet?) She uses the Gizmo service to call landlines in Finland because it is a lot cheaper than using the cell phone (many people in Finland do not have landlines any more...)
So, the Skype really doesn't offer much benefits, other than:
- Great sound (frequency bandwidth goes much higher than Gizmo, I believe?)
- Just works (TM) on computers, since it finds a way to get around firewalls, etc...
- Encryption?
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2007-12-14
, 01:03
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Posts: 322 |
Thanked: 28 times |
Joined on Feb 2007
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#16
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Originally Posted by Mara
@ Sungrove:
You can use *any* SIP compatible phone adapter with Gizmo Project service. I do have one Grandstream phone adapter
One of them purchased call out credit last time in February and it still hasn't expired. (Isn't it over 180 days yet?)
So, the Skype really doesn't offer much benefits, other than:
- Great sound (frequency bandwidth goes much higher than Gizmo, I believe?)
- Just works (TM) on computers, since it finds a way to get around firewalls, etc...
- Encryption?
OK, I stand somewhat corrected. I find it hard to keep up with VOIP. I'm mostly going on what I have read over time on Skype's forums-people not being able to get those adapters to work. Yes, that's with Skype. Maybe it's easier with Gizmo. I'll look for Grandstream adapters on the net.
You have to work at finding Gizmos notice on their web site that you lose any unused credit after 180 days. It's in the small print as they say.
We have a Linksys cit 400 Skype phone that doesn't need a computer. I think it works just like Vonage with a modem that connects via ethernet wire to my high speed internet ( actually indirectly since it is connected to my wireless router that in turn is connected to my Internet modem. Ultimately it's all wireless since we have Clearwire stationary WMAX service here in Seattle. Could you tell why Vonage is worthwhile? They want about $25 per month here in Seattle- so about $300 per year compared to very similar Skype service for $95. But you apparently are in Finland, so things are diiferent there?...
thanks,
Neil
Last edited by sungrove; 2007-12-14 at 01:06.
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2007-12-14
, 01:18
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Posts: 1,310 |
Thanked: 820 times |
Joined on Mar 2006
@ Irving, TX
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#17
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Originally Posted by sungrove
No, I do live in US. I just got Vonage few years back when the whole VoIP thing was still new... It was a great deal then when compared to regular telco offerings... Now I'd most likely take the Gizmo service because it just is much cheaper than Vonage with my usage pattern. (I do have the 500 minutes plan from Vonage that is $15/month.) I haven't dumped Vonage because I do not want to lose the phone number that people know how to reach me...
OK, I stand somewhat corrected. I find it hard to keep up with VOIP. I'm mostly going on what I have read over time on Skype's forums-people not being able to get those adapters to work. Yes, that's with Skype. Maybe it's easier with Gizmo. I'll look for Grandstream adapters on the net.
You have to work at finding Gizmos notice on their web site that you lose any unused credit after 180 days. It's in the small print as they say.
We have a Linksys cit 400 Skype phone that doesn't need a computer. I think it works just like Vonage with a modem that connects via ethernet wire to my high speed internet ( actually indirectly since it is connected to my wireless router that in turn is connected to my Internet modem. Ultimately it's all wireless since we have Clearwire stationary WMAX service here in Seattle. Could you tell why Vonage is worthwhile? They want about $25 per month here in Seattle- so about $300 per year compared to very similar Skype service for $95. But you apparently are in Finland, so things are diiferent there?...
thanks,
Neil
The SIP adapter I use with Gizmo is:
http://www.grandstream.com/ht386.html
It has two ports, so it can be "chained" with your regular phone line. (The regular line in my case is Vonage line.) I also hooked up that to my home phone wiring (disconnected first the phone line going to analog telco outside my house.) That way any phone plug in my home supports any normal phone, that can be used to call or pick up calls from either Vonage or Gizmo.)
But I agree you can get very similar setup with Skype.
EDIT: My last sentence may not be correct... With quick search I could not find any Skype to PSTN-adapters that hooks up to Ethernet directly... I'd have thought they have made one already!
Last edited by Mara; 2007-12-14 at 01:46.
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2007-12-14
, 15:51
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Posts: 6 |
Thanked: 1 time |
Joined on Oct 2007
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#18
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Originally Posted by heavyt
How did you set that up? I'm not sure I understand. Are you using the Gizmo SIP number as the mobile number for GrandCentral mobile?
You can also make FREE outbound calls with Gizmo via GrandCentral Mobile.
(I don't own a cell phone. I do own a Nokia 770.)
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2007-12-14
, 16:29
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Posts: 708 |
Thanked: 125 times |
Joined on Jan 2007
@ Too Close To D.C
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#19
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Originally Posted by ericbecky
Yes I am using Gizmo SIP number as my mobile number for GC mobile.
How did you set that up? I'm not sure I understand. Are you using the Gizmo SIP number as the mobile number for GrandCentral mobile?
(I don't own a cell phone. I do own a Nokia 770.)
In GC Settings (add/edit number) I have it set up for it to ring my Gizmo SIP number when a party calls my GC number. Now when an incoming call comes in via GC number my Gizmo rings. Those calls plus the phone numbers in my GC address book will be displayed in GC Mobile as numbers you can dial. Just click on the call link next to the number and Gizmo will start to ring and display the phone number for you to confirm that is the number you would like to call. I hope that is of some help.
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2007-12-14
, 16:35
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Posts: 82 |
Thanked: 6 times |
Joined on Nov 2007
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#20
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Originally Posted by kady
Please send me an invite to grandcentral if you can
I have been using Gizmo with my N800 for 3 or 4 months. Calling out can be frustrating because it does not always connect, but there is ringing on the end of the person that you are calling. It may take 2 or more tries, but when it does work though, it works great. I have been sipping on the same $10 that I bought when I downloaded it.
I did go for the call in number, thinking that I would use it more often than I do, but Grand Central pretty much takes care of everything. All incoming calls have had no trouble.
Send me an email if you want an invitation for Grand Central.
email is gentoo@codetel.net.do thanks in advance!
I don't really care for Skype or Gizmo, would rather use cheaper local providers with the lowest possible latency.