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Private | |
Industry | Mobile application development |
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Headquarters | Austin, Texas , |
Key people | Bill Moore, CEO Alexey Gavrilov, CTO |
Products | Zello |
41 [1] | |
Website | zello.com |
Zello uses proprietary low-latency push-to-talk protocol and is not interoperable with Voxer, Sprint Direct Connect or AT&T Enhanced PTT. Zello Android client supports free public service, ZelloWork cloud service, and private Zello Enterprise Server. We are working hard to improve the app so please expect frequent updates. Find great deals on eBay for zello ptt and zello mic. Shop with confidence.
Zello is an application startup located in Austin, Texas, behind the creation of Zello applications. The applications emulate push-to-talk (PTT) walkie-talkies over cell phone networks. The apps are available for Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Windows PC, rugged mobile devices and two-way radios. Zello is free while the ZelloWork application is free for 30 days.[2]
Company history[edit]
Alexey Gavrilov developed the product originally called Loudtalks which was announced at the TechCrunch 40 Mobile and Communications Conference on September 17, 2007.[3] Zello acquired the Loudtalks technology, rebranded, moved the development team to Austin, added apps and announced June 20, 2012.[4] Bill Moore is the CEO and Gavrilov is CTO. Moore founded and was CEO of TuneIn where Gavrilov and his team created popular TuneIn applications.
Products[edit]
Zello simulates traditional two-way radios, offering additional features such as history, replay last message, notifications and Bluetooth device support. It works over 2G, 4G, 3G and GPRS/EDGE networks.[5] Zello is 'a direct messaging service that allows members to communicate freely either privately with individuals or over open channels that can support hundreds of thousands of users,' said U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.[6] It allows people to use cell phones and computers all around the world like walkie-talkies.[7]
Zello users can create channels and give control to other Zello users to become moderators. New York Times' technology columnist David Pogue describes Zello's channels, 'Like most of the best applications, Zello lets you create groups so that you can carry on something like a party-line phone call among a handful—or hundreds—of friends or collaborators.'[8]
Once a channel is created, channels can appear on the 'Trending' list and creators can assign additional moderators to keep their created channels safe. Though available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Blackberry, Zello can also be accessed from a Windows PC computer with the Zello for Windows PC.[8]
News[edit]
Zello made the news in June 2013 when Turkish protesters used it to circumvent government censors.[9] As a result, Zello was the top most downloaded application in Turkey during the first week of June 2013.[10]
In February 2014, it was blocked by CANTV in Venezuela. Zello issued workarounds and patches to overcome the blocks to support approximately 600,000 Venezuelans who have downloaded the application to communicate with each other amidst protests.[11] It 'has been one of the most downloaded applications in Ukraine and Venezuela.'[12]
In July 2017, in Latvia, Zello was the main application which was used by thousands of volunteers and rescuers for communication purposes while looking for Ivans Berladins who went missing.
In August 2017 during relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Zello became a popular method for communications between volunteer rescuers and people stranded by the widespread flooding.[13][14] The app received over 6 million signups in one week as Florida residents prepared for Hurricane Irma.[15]
Once again in September 2018, while Hurricane Florence was causing unprecedented flooding in the Carolinas, rescuers used Zello to request information on street conditions and the locations of people needing help. [16]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^[1]. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^Zello Crunchbase Profile. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^Riley, D. (September 17, 2007).TechCrunch 40 Session 2: Mobile & Communications. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^Perez, S. (June 20, 2012). 'Voice Chat App Voxer Gets New Competition From Zello.' Techcrunch. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^Hodgkins, K. (May 9, 2013).'Zello lets you chat walkie-talkie style with friends, co-workers.' TUAW. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^Cruz, T. (February 27, 2014).'Zello and Venezuela on C-SPAN.' C-SPAN. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^(February 21, 2014).'In Venezuela, The Internet Becomes A Crucial Battleground.' NBC News. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^ abPogue, D. (September 5, 2012).'Smartphone? Presto! 2-Way Radio.' The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^Arthur, C. (June 4, 2013).'Turkish protesters using encryption software to evade censors.'The Guardian. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^(June 2, 2013).Zello Walkie Talkie Daily Ranks. App Annie. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^Zhang, S. (February 25, 2014).'The Mobile App Driving Venezuela's Anti-Government Protests.' Gizmodo. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^Burke, S. (February 24, 2014.) 'Protesters in Venezuela, Ukraine turn to peer-to-peer messaging app.' CNN. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^On Roads Turned Waterways, Volunteers Improvise to Save the Trapped and Desperate, Manny Fernandez, New York Times, August 29, 2017
- ^Hartman, H. (September 7, 2017) 'I downloaded an app. And suddenly, was part of the Cajun Navy.' Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^Bhuiyan, Johana (September 10, 2017). 'This walkie talkie app got six million new users in one week as Florida prepared for Hurricane Irma'. Recode. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^Healy, Jack; Fink, Sheri (September 15, 2018). 'Torrents of Water in Towns Across the Carolinas. And a Guy With a Boat'. New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zello&oldid=890158406'
Tips
By Mike Wuerthele
Wednesday, September 06, 2017, 07:42 am PT (10:42 am ET)
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and with Irma approaching, word is spreading about 'push to talk' iPhone app Zello. However, downloaders should be aware that the app requires not only a solid internet connection, but connectivity to Zello's servers to function.Wednesday, September 06, 2017, 07:42 am PT (10:42 am ET)
According to Zello's CEO, the 'walkie-talkie' app saw a 20-fold increase in usage during the Houston rescue situation, and was in use by the 'Cajun Navy' as well as some first responders.
Just this week, on Tuesday, Zello says it gained 600,000 new users, as Florida braces for Category 5 storm Hurricane Irma.
Zello uses some form of voice-over-IP (VOIP) to function. It does not utilize the now-shuttered PTT network commonly used on Nextel devices. As such, a reliable Wi-Fi or LTE connection is needed on both ends. Additionally, the Zello servers need to be fully operational and not overburdened.
After being picked up on social media as a prime choice for emergency contact app, complaints flooded the App Store noting that users couldn't sign up for an account. At the time this article was written, the support page for the app is not working, and
AppleInsider couldn't sign up for an account as a result.
AppleInsider isn't saying that you shouldn't install the app. However, we are saying that you shouldn't rely on it in the event of a crisis resulting in massive destruction of infrastructure.
Apple's own iMessage and FaceTime do need reliable internet connectivity as well, but the server infrastructure Apple has built around the services are robust, and reliable —eliminating over-capacity as a reason for failure.
If you live in Florida, or any other area expected to see impact from Irma, be prepared. Just don't put all your eggs in one basket —or app.