Google is continuing its efforts to boost Google Voice with the acquisition of Gizmo5 – a voice over IP software company – for an undisclosed sum.
Current Gizmo5 users will still be able to use the service, which is basically similar to Skype, but is based on open standards. It also includes a client for cellphone users.
However, new signups will be suspended, and existing users will no longer be able to sign up for a call-in number.
“Since the GrandCentral team joined Google in 2007, they’ve done incredible things with Google’s technology and resources to launch and improve Google Voice,” says ‘Speedy’ Wesley Chan on the company blog. “We welcome the Gizmo5 team to Google and look forward to working together to bringing more useful features to Google Voice.”
Google isn’t saying exactly what Gizmo5 is likely to bring to the party. While the blazingly-obvious answer is VOIP, Google only last month told the FCC that it shouldn’t be subject to the same rules as phone companies, precisely because it wasn’t a VOIP service.
Google Voice and Gizmo5 are already integrated: Voice users are able to use the Gizmo5 service as one of their numbers.
