Type of site | Online file conversion |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Owner | Mike and Chris Whyley |
Key people | Christopher J.M. Whyley; Michael J Whyley |
Services | Online and Desktop File Conversion & Compression |
Total equity | £597,640 (2022)
£643,693 (2021) £283,958 (2020) £155,809 (2019) |
URL | www |
Commercial | Yes |
Registration | Optional |
Launched | 2006 |
Current status | Online |
Zamzar is an online file converter and compressor, created by brothers Mike and Chris Whyley in England in 2006.[1][2] It allows users to convert files online, without downloading a software tool, and supports over 1,200 different conversion types.[3] Since its formation, the service has converted over 510 million files for users[4] from 245 different countries.[5] The service supports the conversion of documents, images, audio, video, e-Books, CAD files and compressed file formats.[6]
[7] Users can type in a URL or upload one or more files (if they are all of the same format) from their computer; Zamzar will then convert the file(s) to another user-specified format, such as an Adobe PDF file to a Microsoft Word document.[8] Once conversion is complete, users can immediately download the file from their web browser.[9] Users can also choose to receive an email with a link to download the converted file.
In February 2021 Zamzar expanded their tool and announced a new file compression service.[10] The compressor is visually similar to the conversion tool with a drag and drop download feature. As with the converter, users have the option to subscribe for a paid plan if they wish to compress multiple or larger files than the free service permits[11]
File conversion API
in 2015 Zamzar launched a file conversion API, allowing users to integrate file conversion capabilities into their own websites and applications.[12] Sample code is provided to allow users to integrate file conversion capabilities in C#, Java, Node.js, PHP, Python and cURL.[13] Zamzar also maintains a project on GitHub which allows users to perform file conversion from the command line on Linux, MacOS or Windows systems.[14]
Email file conversion
It is also possible to send files for conversion by emailing them to Zamzar.[15] Zamzar launched this capability in 2012,[16] allowing users to email files to dedicated email addresses for the file to be automatically converted to a different format. A link is then emailed back to the end user to allow them to download their converted file. For example, to convert a .doc attachment to .pdf users would simply email the file to pdf@zamzar.com
.
Customers / User Privacy
Zamzar does not publish lists of customers that use their services, but in 2019 they announced[17] that Xerox Corporation would be using the Zamzar API to help power conversions in the Xerox Audio Document application. Users of Zamzar's services have access to both a Terms of Service document[18] and a Privacy Policy.[19] In April 2018 Zamzar announced[20] their compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and began offering a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), covering end user data rights and outlining Zamzar's contractual obligations to protect that data.[21]
User privilege levels
Zamzar is currently free to use, but there is a limit of two conversions per day for files up to 50MB. Users can pay a monthly subscription in order to access preferential features, such as unlimited file conversions, online file management, shorter response and queuing times and other benefits.[22]
Naming etymology
Its name comes from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Its main character is called Gregor Samsa and it is from his surname that Zamzar is derived.[1][23] The founders of the service considered three other names – Konvertieren, Khamailen and Obrogo – before settling on Zamzar.[24]
See also
References
- 1 2 Zhang, Michael, "Interview with Zamzar", Folksonomy, November 11, 2006 (archived version 2008)
- ↑ "Zamzar Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ↑ Srivastava, Shivani (July 19, 2017). "Zamzar file converter: in-Depth Review". TechGYD.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- ↑ Zamzar, File Converter (2022-12-07). "Converters: Converters for all popular file formats". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ↑ "Zamzar - File Conversion API - About Us". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ "Zamzar - free online converter". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ Make, formerly Integromat (2022-12-07). "Convert a File in Zamzar using method import from URL and upload the files to OneDrive". www.make.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ↑ Lifehacker – Online file conversion with Zamzar
- ↑ "Realtime File Conversions - Better, Faster, Stronger!". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ Zamzar, The Zamzar Team (2021-02-02). "Compress Your Files in a Click with Zamzar!". Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ↑ File Compression, Zamzar. "Compress Files". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ↑ Team, The Zamzar (2015-01-26). "Announcing the file conversion API". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ "Zamzar - File Conversion API - Documentation". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ Bash Command Line Interface for the Zamzar API: convert files to 100s of formats direct from the command line. - zamzar/zamzar-bash, Zamzar, 2019-07-05, retrieved 2019-09-03
- ↑ Fisher, Tim (June 11, 2018). "Zamzar Review". Lifewire.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- ↑ Team, The Zamzar (2012-02-10). "Convert files by email". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ "Zamzar powers new Xerox "Audio Document" app". The Zamzar Blog. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ↑ "Zamzar Terms of Service". Zamzar Terms of Service. 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ "Zamzar Privacy Policy". Zamzar Privacy Policy. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ "Zamzar and GDPR". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ "Zamzar Data Processing Agreement". Zamzar Data Processing Agreement. 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ↑ "Convert file types - signup for Zamzar". Zamzar.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
- ↑ 10 Worst App Names – PC Magazine
- ↑ Team, The Zamzar (2019-07-12). "Landing on Zamzar: How we chose our company name". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.