Zello is a push-to-talk (PTT) walkie-talkie for citizens and available for Android, Windows PC, rugged mobile devices and two-way radios. Zello is free.
Zello is a application startup located in Austin, Texas, behind the creation of Zello applications. The applications are push-to-talk (PTT) walkie-talkie for consumers and business and available for Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Windows PC, rugged mobile devices and two-way radios. Zello is free while the Zello@Work application is free for up to 5 users.<ref name="crunchbase" />
Zello acts as a replacement for 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.<ref>Hodgkins, K. (May 9, 2013)."Zello lets you chat walkie-talkie style with friends, co-workers." TUAW. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref> Zello is a "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.<ref>Cruz, T. (February 27, 2014)."Zello and Venezuela on C-SPAN." C-SPAN. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref> It allows people to use cell phones and computers all around the world like walkie-talkies.<ref>(February 21, 2014)."In Venezuela, The Internet Becomes A Crucial Battleground." NBC News. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref>
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."<ref name="pogue">Pogue, D. (September 5, 2012)."Smartphone? Presto! 2-Way Radio." The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref>
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.<ref name="pogue" />
News
Zello made the news in June 2013 when Turkish protesters used it to circumvent government censors.<ref>Arthur, C. (June 4, 2013)."Turkish protesters using encryption software to evade censors." The Guardian. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref> As a result, Zello top most downloaded application in Turkey during the first week of June 2013.<ref name="appannie">(June 2, 2013).Zello Walkie Talkie Daily Ranks. App Annie. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref>
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.<ref>Zhang, S. (February 25, 2014)."The Mobile App Driving Venezuela's Anti-Government Protests." Gizmodo. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref> It "has been one of the most downloaded applications in Ukraine and Venezuela."<ref>Burke, S. (February 24, 2014.) "Protesters in Venezuela, Ukraine turn to peer-to-peer messaging app." CNN. Retrieved March 6, 2014.</ref>
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