[Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

[Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911
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anon @ 2nd Nov 04:22PM:
[Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

Just received the following from Gizmo:

I wanted to personally inform you that we will no longer be supporting our e911 service effective immediately. We will be refunding any monies that you have paid to our residential service product as well as credit you $10 to your call out balance. You will also be able to use the home balance through the end of your monthly term.

I will be notifying you as well via phone.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Regards,

Tina M. Donaldson

Strategic Development, Gizmo5, Inc.
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nitzan @ 2nd Nov 05:00PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

One word (or is it 3?) - WTF?!
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trev @ 2nd Nov 05:08PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

Would be very nice to find out why they are dropping support. I wonder if they got sued for something related to E911?
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dyrewolfe @ 2nd Nov 05:17PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

The residential services page has indeed gone missing from the G5 website. Cached copy is still available if anyone is interested in seeing it though.

»74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:BCQ···irefox-a

I wonder if this has anything to do with AT&T's claims of Google being a common carrier?
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PX Eliezer @ 2nd Nov 05:43PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

said by dyrewolfe :

I wonder if this has anything to do with AT&T's claims of Google being a common carrier?

Gizmo5 was already viewed in the same category as other VosP, so that's not it.

More likely, GoogleVoice may have felt that Gizmo5 was taking undue advantage of their relationship. In other words, Gizmo5 was milking it for all it was worth, and GoogleVoice may have finally had enough.

There was an old movie, "A Voip Bridge Too Far".

---------------------------------------------

GoogleVoice may also be wanting to distance itself from Gizmo5 if Gizmo5 was dancing with Skype.
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kieranmullen @ 2nd Nov 05:47PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

Honestly, how long was that out? 2 months?
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DogFace05 @ 2nd Nov 05:51PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

said by dyrewolfe :

if this has anything to do with AT&T's claims of Google being a common carrier?

Their residential service isn't in any way linked to Google Voice, so I don't see how AT&T's little complaint would have any relevance to G5 (unless Google secretly happens to have an ownership stake in G5). More likely, it's in preparation for their upcoming assimilation into Skype (if the deal is consummated). Skype do not want to be regulated as an interconnected VoIP service, and thus are not likely to want to take in an operation that by default would turn them into one. The solution: have G5 rid themselves before the merger of any services that qualify them as an interconnected VoIP provider.
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PX Eliezer @ 2nd Nov 05:59PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

said by DogFace05 :

Their residential service isn't in any way linked to Google Voice, so I don't see how AT&T's little complaint would have any relevance to G5....

But they do say:

"Gizmo5 Residential Service:
Use your Google Voice or US Call-in number as your home phone line for huge savings!"

In that sense, it is not a legal tie-in or an ownership issue, but rather perhaps GoogleVoice does not want Gizmo5 making money off of Google's name.
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dyrewolfe @ 2nd Nov 06:25PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

That's what I referencing. The "Use GV as your home phone!" in big bold letters bit.

But what you and DF05 said makes a lot of sense. I never even thought of how Skype might play into it.
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anon @ 2nd Nov 09:32PM:
Re: [Other] Gizmo5 to Discontinue Residential Service and e911

my guess is also that skype asked them to do this before a potential buyout. it would also not surprise me if they workaround/hacks connecting the IM service to yahoo, aol and msn are cut. skype would likely prefer a 'clean' sip and jabber service that plays nice with the big boys instead finding ways to hack through there restrictive networks.

the regulatory reaction will be interesting.
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