I compare Skype, Gizmo Project's calling rates

In this series of posts, I am comparing the much-ballyhooed Gizmo Project to Skype.

For this post, I compared the plans you will need to make each softphone make and receive calls. I analyzed the:

Outbound calling rates of SkypeOut to Gizmo Project's CallOut;

Inbound line rates of SkypeIn to Gizmo CallIn.

And here are my key findings:

Unless you are based in the U.S., and are only calling within the U.S., then Gizmo's CallOut is usually pricier. In-U.S. calls are 1.8 cents a minute on Gizmo and 2.3 cents a minute on Skype.

Calling the rest of the world? The math changes. Here are the per-minute calling rate comparisons to land lines for ten popular call-destinations.

Australia- Skype 2.3 cents;Gizmo 3.9 cents.

Canada- Skype 2.3 cents; Gizmo 2.9 cents.

China-   Skype 2.3 cents; Gizmo 4.9 cents.

France- Skype 2.3 cents; Gizmo 4.9 cents.

Hong Kong- Skype 2.7 cents; Gizmo 3.9 cents.

Israel-   Skype 3.5 cents; Gizmo 6.9 cents.

Japan-   Skype 2.57 cents; Gizmo 2.9 cents.

Mexico (Mexico City)- Skype 2.3 cents; Gizmo  11.9 cents. Not a typo.

South Africa- Skype 9.5 cents; Gizmo 7.9 cents.

UK- Skype 2.3 cents; Gizmo 2.9 cents.

So, we see that except for in-U..S. calls, Skype calls are almost always less expensive than Gizmo Project calls. So on price, Skype wins.

Now what about the comparative costs of having your own phone number?

SkypeIn costs the dollar equivalent of $14.48 for a three-month sub. In practical terms, that's about $4.80 or $4.85 a month.

Gizmo CallIn costs $5 a month, and offers local numbers in only 50 or so U.S. metro areas.

The real savings kick in on a yearly sub. If you were to sign up with SkypeIn for a year, you would pay only $36.21, or a little more than $3 a month. Gizmo Project does not currently offer a discounted long-term plan. So, $5 a month would equate to $60 a year.