It’s been close to a year since Google acquired Gizmo5, back in November of 2009. I was a Gizmo5 paying customer then and I still am now. We use the Gizmo5 SIP trunks for some of our Asterisk VoIP phone lines. I was never a fan or big user of the Gizmo5 Windows app.
When Google took over Gizmo5, they immediately shut down the ability to add new accounts, and also for existing paying members to add new lines to their existing accounts. Neither Google or the Gizmo5 customer service people would provide existing customers with information on what would be happening with the service. I inquired whether we would suddenly get cut off from our existing services, or when we could add new SIP lines to our existing accounts. And I would contact them and ask on occasion. Each time after maybe 2 weeks I would get a reply like, not at this time, and no news as when that might change. Not impressive in my own opinion. However, they did stop charging me for the local DID numbers I had acquired through them. In fact when they expired, I complained and they made sure I got them back at no charge, and they informed me they would be no charge for the next 2 or 3 years, I forget the exact date at the moment. I was paying quarterly for them up till that point. You have to respect that. They were obviously making some allowances to not interrupt service to existing customers, and I did appreciate that perk.
So this week they finally rolled out a new service, which looks much like the original Gizmo5 Windows app I think. But now it is directly tied to their Gmail service, and it is now a web app that runs in your browser, after installing a plug-in. Calls in the US and Canada are free till the end of 2010. Obviously to allow people to get used to the service and not have to pay to try.
You activate the phone pop-up by clicking on “Call phone” in your Gmail Chat box in the left column of the Gmail page. “Call phone” seems like a strange name for this feature. “Phone call” would be more appropriate, as well as many other suggestions I’m sure we could all come up with. Makes one think that someone who’s first language is not English got to decide what to call this new Gmail service.
I made a test call and it seems to work fine. The interface is basic and easy to use. The settings are located in the “Gmail > Settings > Chat” section. However, the first time I looked for the new settings, after installing the plug-in and restarting my browser, they were missing. They appeared after a refresh, so I assume it had to do with my browser caching. I’m using Google Chrome. You can change your mic and speakers at this settings location.
I do wish that there was a setting to change the calling location country, I have been unable to find it if it exists. So it defaults and always starts as the US flag and calling location. I’m in Canada, and even though the country code is still (+1) it would show some respect on their part to not assume that everyone lives in the USA. There is only 2 English selections in Gmail settings, US and UK English. Changing this to UK did not change this default to the UK, it stayed as US. So it doesn’t appear to be tied to the language setting.
I’m glad they finally did something with the Gizmo5 tech. I still wonder what they plan to do with us original Gizmo5 customers and accounts. It doesn’t appear we will find out any sooner than anyone else.
nice post! i too am in Canada, and got a gizmo5 account shortly before the google acquisition. currently my USA google voice number is tied to my gmail. i’m really looking forward to when i will be able to use my 604 gizmo5 callin number instead, particularly for the CallerID. i also was paying quarterly for the gizmo5 service, and recently i got the nice surprise with the expire date being extended until July 2015! not too bad, since i was paying close to thirteen USD a month.