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January 30, 2007
Gizmo VoIP
Gizmo VoIP: I scanned this article yesterday, and it confused me: "SIPphone, the company behind Gizmo Project has introduced a new product, Gizmo Call1 that make is fairly simple to make VoIP calls from any browser that can support Adobe's Flash... no desktop client software to download." Today I checked out the GizmoCall site, and after working through the frontpage SWF it asked me to download an .EXE from gizmocall.com, while the webpage showed a progress bar saying "waiting for flash plug-in". That's confusing. I think they mean "We want to install our own browser plugin that works alongside the well-known Adobe Flash Player"... their download is not for the Adobe Flash Player, and to my knowledge the download does not extend the Adobe Flash Player (ie, they're not a plugin to a plugin). My best current understanding is that this is a voice-over-internet native-code executable which requests interface services (and possibly cam/mic services) from a previously-installed Adobe Flash Player. If my understanding's correct then the technical part seems fine, but the branding and informational aspects seem funky... that EXE is not coming from the Adobe site, and does not have the Adobe reputation standing behind it. Could be innocuous; just looks strange....
Posted by JohnDowdell at January 30, 2007 02:17 PM
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Comments
You're right. It installs a local service that communicates with the browser plugin over ExternalInterface and uses the Flash Player audio settings as a microphone. I tried it ( you need to reboot ) and made my first free phone calls to my mobile. I think it's actually a really neat app :)
Posted by: Owen van Dijk at January 30, 2007 03:29 PM
Hey John - your right the way it words the messaging it looks as if they are telling the user they are installing a plugin for Flash itself, which a bit misleading. On the Mac the process is similar, but they install a Preference Pane App that the Flex/Flash app communicates with. From my first cursory glance it works well, and the local preference pane app listens on a couple local ports to allow the Flash/Flex based app to communicate with it to do its VoIP thing - I posted more about my experience with it here:
http://www.impossibilities.com/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=234
I thought I broke some news finding this and posting, but then found your post and several others. Just too slow on the draw I guess. ;)
Its certainly interesting use of Flash and tying it in with a local app. I've been working on a new project that will see the light of day soon that takes a similar web and local native app communications approach, and I'm seeing more of this. Think Apollo is really going to hit a sweet spot when its out and enables even more interesting applications and possibilities.
Posted by: Robert M. Hall at January 30, 2007 06:23 PM
Thanks for the word, Owen, Robert... helps confirm my understanding.
I'm mostly concerned about the user experience, and the possibility that people might think they're downloading native-code from Adobe Systems when it's actually coming from somewhere else.
Posted by: John Dowdell at January 30, 2007 08:53 PM
The next day, CNET publishes a story with the following nonsensical line: "SIPphone is launching a service called Gizmo that allows people to make Internet phone calls without having to use a traditional software client. Using a downloadable flash plug-in..."
Lots of "publishers" reuse CNET stories as-is, just changing the masthead and collecting their own ad revenue off the results... looks like a lot more could be vulnerable to false impressions now.... :(
Posted by: John Dowdell at January 31, 2007 02:09 PM