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Stuart Henshall
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Project Gizmo

June 30, 2005 08:21 PM

Topics: Competitors

gizmo3.jpgIn October 2003 Michael Robertson of Sipphone (Linspire and MP3 fame) said "So Skype is a nice little experiment but it will get quickly run over by SIP.". It took him until now and Project Gizmo to try and address the Skype desktop challenge. So today yet another softphone client emerged. As expected from the founder of Sipphone he's positioning Gizmo as "giving" you your SIP number, open source and plenty of other claims. Still the core story that Project Gizmo hopes to hook consumers on is below. It's the open versus closed argument again. It won't be enough and I'll tell you why.

Net calling software Skype has exploded onto the scene. Its ease of use and robustness have quickly built an enormous user base and introduced many to the power of net calling. But Internet users should be wary of Skype because its strategy is a throwback to the '80s built on proprietary standards that locks out all others. This week, a product called Gizmo is being unveiled - the first viable Skype alternative built on open source that pledges to connect to all. Michael Robertson . com

The argument fails because the product isn't better, not due to the righteousness of an open source argument it just doesn't have the features for tomorrow. Similarly, he forgets or never mentions in his argument mobile carriers. Skype sometimes suggest they should be thought of as a mobile carrier. Of course they have no infrastructure. Which is the final element. Skype and Gizmo are just pieces of software. The question is where can they live? Skype continues to live in more and more places. Many more than SIP.

gizmo1.jpg gizmo2.jpg

Unfortuantely, I was not successful in completing a full test of Gizmo. When I can I will. It apparently failed to find a way through my firewall after registering my name. Note in image one, the Skype icon is connected and online. My two test buddies similarly couldn't get it to work. Was this a network problem, a software problem or what I don't know. So I left a message for Michael on his site. Image two suggests that time has gone into the user interface. The basics are certainly beginning to be understood. Versions are available for both Windows and the Mac. Linux is due in August.

When I first looked at Gizmo I had to go back and look at Jajah and then Teleo to see if it was simply a clone. While I've been unable to test the real capabilities there is one jarring component apparently missing. Gizmo has no text / chat function. It's also unclear from the documentation however I think you are either online or offline. Even basic presence is not supported. I also doubt there is any need to authorize new contacts and there is no video at the moment.

So while I like and even applaud the desire for open source it's not going to see me in the short term on Gizmo. This also disappoints me. Still this is another confirmation that SIP implementations aren't easy and aren't delivering. Skype may be safer than Mr. Robertson thinks.

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Posted by: Rick at June 30, 2005 11:20 PM

Thanks for the review. I like Gizmo's website and clean GUI. They are very well organized. However, I understand more and more why Skype did not take the SIP route. It doesn't work. I do believe the time will come when they have to switch to SIP. But I can't see it now.

Due to the Microsoft rumors, I just listened to a Teleo audio webblog. I was very impressed with Peter Sisson. Teleo claims to have a successful firewall traversal technology, which is the key component for SIP these days. And Teleo can forward calls to a cell phone. And allows clickable phone numbers from a browser, e-mail, website, etc. Teleo is worth keeping an eye on.

Posted by: observation at June 30, 2005 11:59 PM

"built on open source" gizmo it still proprietary and closed. is he trying to trade on the firefox (et al) wave. if it really is open source where can i read see the code?

Posted by: Stuart Henshall at July 1, 2005 8:01 AM

Observation,
Thanks for pointing that out. It's a good point. I should have dug into it deeper. That's the problem with fluff announcements.
Thanks.

Posted by: Stuart Henshall at July 1, 2005 8:06 AM

Rick,
I sat on a panel with Peter at Supernova. I know he would like Teleo to be in the race. I'm sure Skype will get call forwarding and the internet plug-in and outlook are available but not integrated. I know skype has developed them internally and they will be released. Teleo still misses basic features, so I'm looking forwar to their upgrade.

I'm watching Teleo, and not just because OM spreads MS rumors.

Posted by: Michael Robertson at July 1, 2005 4:25 PM

Standards is just one part of it, the other significant development with Gizmo is an OPEN directory. Unlike Skype, we connect to anyone's directory. Skype locks people out of their directory as a way to keep power for themselves. That's their prerogative for sure, but that doesn't mean it's good for consumers or the net.

It's true Skype has a huge lead, hey Real Audio had the same lead with audio until MP3 came along.

Net calling can go the way of email or IM. With email, any email program/service can connect to any other program or service. On the other hand, IM is a mess because the systems refused to interconnect. My hope is that VOIP goes the way of email and not IM.

As for SIP, TODAY there are SIP wifi phones. There are SIP routers. There are SIP adapters. That all exists today because SIP is an open standard. That's the power of a standard everyone can use. In the end, standards win.

-- MR

Posted by: Jasbir Kular at July 4, 2005 2:40 PM

SIP and P2P both have their strengths and weakness but together that is the future. SIP based P2P is being worked on as we speak...stay tuned...

Posted by: Stuart Henshall at July 6, 2005 5:26 PM

Michael,
I appreciate your comments here and on the Gizmo update. I'm yet to see the interconnected consumer environment that SIP advocates promise. Similarly, I'm well aware that my mobile carrier is locked tight. Open directories? Maybe federated directories?

There are SIP phones etc. They are not cheap for what one gets. Maybe that is why I just saw a number that says softphones dominate the VoIP market today.

That suggests to me that new behaviors are emerging. The features that emerge in softphones are very important.

An example. Voice Mail in Gizmo is delivered by email. As the email I used wasn't my common one. I missed many voice messages until told where I would find them. I understand the economics of such a delivery. Is it helpful or efficient for me. No.

It's a great first edition. I'm looking forward to the second.

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