While we are on the subject of telecommunication applications for your computer, and since Gizmo Project was mentioned in the past few entries, I decided to write on Gizmo Project today.

Gizmo Project is one application that is striving to make waves both on the VoIP and the Instant Messaging industry. By advertising and implementing an obscenely low-rate free calling program, aptly named “All Calls Free.” It’s a bonus for the VoIP consumer, and it generates loyalty, IMHO.

Another great feature of GizmoProject is that you can integrate it with your other instant messaging accounts. Because of that, you will be able to use Gizmo’s VoIP services, while being able to chat with other “Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, GoogleTalk, and Gizmo users.” (source)

Because of my friend’s experience with Gizmo Call-Out, I became wary of using the program myself. Still, if you can risk $10 and try their call out service, it’s a lot cheaper than Skype.

Their All Calls Free program is also worth checking out. It’s pretty much a free lunch, if you’re in one of their eligible countries.

I tried Gizmo Project once and I was able to make a free call to a landline upon signup. But when I had reached the end of my bonus call, when I tried calling out again, this annoying male voice greeted me with a spiel on how I won’t be able to make a call.

The bug that my friend had experienced with Gizmo was that the call would go past that switchboard with the annoying voice, but won’t really connect with the person she’s calling. She wasted quite a few dollars on that one, and it was no surprise that she demanded for a refund. To Gizmo Project’s credit, her refund was promptly done, and she has since happily switched to Skype.

Still, I would like to think that the bugs and the foibles that my friend had experienced was due more to her ISP rather than Gizmo, in retrospect. But still, it would have saved both her and Gizmo some aggravation if Gizmo had a better switchboard system: meaning that it shouldn’t have allowed the call to go through or the credits be debited since there was no input coming from her side.

And yet I believe my friend had an isolated case. I still think it’s worth checking out Gizmo Project, if only to take advantage of its All Calls Free program. Saving a buck here and there works, any which way you look at it. Just make sure that VoIP is allowed on your provider’s services and you’ll do fine.

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