Google to acquire Gizmo5, swing at Skype with VoIP-enabled Google Voice?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Nov 9th 2009 5:38PM
posted Nov 9th 2009 5:38PM
There's no official word on this yet, but the inimitable Michael Arrington says that Google's up and purchased VoIP company Gizmo5 for "around $30 million in cash." You know, pocket change for the crew in Mountain View. The deal would presumably bring Gizmo's SIP-based VoIP talents to Google Voice, taking it from quirky phone-management service to complete end-to-end calling solution, and instantly catapulting it into direct competition with Skype. Heavy stuff -- we'll see if Google or Gizmo5 confirms Mssr. Arrington's report sometime soon.
As long as they keep allowing connections via SIP rather than having to download Google Talk or something of that sort, then I'm fine with it.
They can turn Google Voice into a worldwide SIP service provider now as well.
Anything that puts a little fear in the hearts of Verizon and AT&T is good in my (phone)book.
I'm all for this but couldn't Google just enable SIP in Google Voice? They're probably already using it to interface with Gizmo.
gizmo probably held the patents for a few of their custom techniques
I guess this month is google's "shopping spree" for other companies, now they even bought AdMob Mobile-advertising network
Will Admob be The New Adsense for Mobile? http://bit.ly/admob-the-new-adsense-for-mobile
Who wants to play Monopoly now? :D
You know they will allow SIP connection without the use of a client (which is not a bad idea if it's Google Voice). Who else allows IMAP connection [for free] from the big boys? Enough said.
interesting
They should either make google talk their sole IM + VoIP solution or ditch that.
I keep thinking they will make improvements, and nothing ever goes forward. When was the last time they updated it ?
I'm sure there will be a single solution package. They probably just did the math on time and energy to upgrade Google Talk vs. cost of buying Gizmo5's tech and expertise, plus they really, really like to buy stuff. Google is a like a teenage girl who just discovered credit cards (except for the part where they don't need credit).
"When was the last time they updated it ?"
When they made the Google Video plug-in. I'm just waiting for real-time video and voice boxes embedded in Google Wave. All communications will be assimilated!
Is this good or bad. I have a Gizmo5 account...that I use with GV for calls.
I think it's a very good thing, and should make the link between GV and Gizmo5's services seamless. I am already using GV+Gizmo5 for my home "landline," and it is awesome. The only downside is that sometimes when I initiate a call from the GV website, it doesn't ring the Gizmo5 line. Perhaps that reliability will improve.
It's good so long as Google doesn't look to VoiP as a per minute revenue stream. So long as it stays free (which I think it will), quality and ease of use could improve dramatically.
http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=115122
we all know that google voice has support for gizmo already right?
Yay! Knowing google, they'll probably release free VOIP, and then all of their competitors will complain about how anti-competitive it is of them to offer their products for free.
I'm waiting for Google Voice fax support... THAT would be bitchin'.
And you forgot Google Search somehow, amazingly.
Damn comment system.
Another reason to continually disconnect myself with anything Google.
I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords. Resistance is futile.
Let's see, ya got
Google Chrome
Google Desktop
Google Earth
Gmail
Picasa
Google Secure Access
Google SketchUp
Visigami
Google Gears
Google Toolbar
Google Calendar
Google News
Google Mobilizer
iGoogle
Google Product Search (Froogle)
GoogleLaditude
Google Maps
Google Sync
Google Talk
Youtube
Google Dashboard
AdSense
Google Apps
Google Gadgets
Google Notebook
Orkut
Knol
Google Reader
Sites
Google Wave
Google Voice
Android
ChromeOS
Google Dictionary
Google Finance
Google Images
Google Video
Google Health
Google Trends
Annnnd let's tack on Google Gizmoooooo
Done!
Blogger
And you forgot Google Search somehow, amazingly.
lol, it's so synonymous with Google, why include it? =D
you also forgot:
Google Documents
Google Groups
Google Code
Google Scholar
Google Translate
Google Checkout
Google Web History
Google Friend Connect
Google Webmaster Tools
Google Analytics
Panoramio
Google Local Business Center
Google 3D Warehouse
Adwords
and probably more than I don't know of.
Google Mars
Google TiSP?
http://www.google.com/tisp/
How can you be opposed to innovation? That seems awfully backwards to me.
May I ask which search engine you use?
And may I ask if you use Adblock?
Bleh, people talk too much.
I thought there was already a Google thing for VOIP? What was the whole deal with their app being rejected from the Apple App Store if not
That was a dialer -- it only sent dialing instructions by data, the call actually goes from your phone to google over the voice network. What using Gizmo5's SIP does is make Google Voice a true voip solution, rather than just a number replacement with some premium features.
Of course you can already use Gizmo5 with GV (and free if you dial from the website or a dialer), but perhaps integration will improve with Google ownership and control, and hopefully the cost won't increase. Gizmovoice is what makes my current prepaid cell plan affordable.
so this would theoretically allow jailbroken iPhones w/ GoogleVoice and account to make free calls and texts VOIP style?
"Google --- All Your Data and Communcations are Belong to Us."
(Tinfoil Hat Firmly Placed on Head..) It seems almost like Google would like to handle all of (y)our data and communications needs, with it all stored on their servers, and all run through their networks. Call me paranoid (OK, I'll wait while you do....) but that's just a little too "Big Brother" for me.
That being said, I am concerned as well that they will become too big, collapsing under the weight of all of the not-quite-complete services. Google services seem to spend way too long in "beta", which IMHO allows them to give excuses when something isn't complete or doesn't work right.
big brother?!?!?! they were one of the only companies to resist government spying. Granted, they did cave eventually but they didnt go along with it hand over fist
So when will an ATA come out so I do away with Vonage?
Gizmo already supports standard SIP, so I use a standard ATA to connect with that. Or, just use Callcentric. Either way, Vonage is too expensive for what you get. :)
This is great news! This plus google voice = win
We are Google. Resistance is futile. You will be data mined. We will add your informational distinctiveness to our database. Your culture will adapt to be serviced by us.
We won't know until they release a new beta service that'll probably eat all competing services for a midday snack.
You forgot one:
My Computer DON'T USE IT
With a name like KGB...sorry kjb434, you probably have worse to worry about. Just saying...
*evil laugh*
Great great great, now who wants to send me an invite to Google Voice?
send me an email to andrewgv@ymail.com with your address and please make an note here in these replies... I ONLY HAVE 2. I'll invite you and the 1st person that follows you.
Oh, and if you have an invite to google wave, I'll gladly exchange! :)
Down with Skype- it's for noobs, and it blows. and it's too expensive.
Really? How expensive is free?
I use the very common Linksys PAP2T with Gizmo, which is already integrated with Google Voice. This is full-featured home phone service that doesn't cost a penny, as long as you are willing to initiate all of your outbound calls with GV.
Lets try that for me!
Google Chrome TRIED IT
Google Desktop TRIED IT
Google Earth LOVE IT
Gmail LOVE IT
Picasa NOT USED
Google Secure Access NOT USED (only available on Google WiFi)
Google SketchUp TRIED IT
Visigami DON'T KNOW IT
Google Gears NOT USED
Google Toolbar WILL NOT USE
Google Calendar NOT OFTEN
Google News LOVE IT
Google Mobilizer NOT USED (Phone is not good enough)
iGoogle LOVE IT
Google Product Search (Froogle) NOT USED
GoogleLaditude NOT USED
Google Maps LOVE IT
Google Sync NOT USED
Google Talk NOT USED
Youtube LOVE IT
Google Dashboard LOVE IT (In case you didn't know, it will show you what Google knows about you)
AdSense NOT USED
Google Apps NOT USED
Google Gadgets NOT USED
Google Notebook SOMETIMES
Orkut NOT USED
Knol TRIED IT
Google Reader TRIED IT
Sites NOT USED
Google Wave LOVE IT
Google Voice (tried to use it, not available in Australia)
Android WANT IT
ChromeOS NOT USED (yet)
Google Dictionary LOVE IT
Google Finance NOT USED
Google Images LOVE IT
Google Video LOVE IT
Google Health NOT USED
Google Trends TRIED IT
Annnnd let's tack on Google Gizmoooooo (WILL PROBABLY USE!)
Looks like they've been busy in the take overs lately. They've just bought AdMob too http://channel.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=21073