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Zamzar

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Zamzar Ltd
The logo of Zamzar
Type of site
Online file conversion
Available inEnglish
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerMike and Chris Whyley
Key peopleChristopher J.M. Whyley; Michael J Whyley
ServicesOnline and Desktop File Conversion & Compression
Total equity£597,640 (2022)

£643,693 (2021) £283,958 (2020)

£155,809 (2019)
URLwww.zamzar.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
Launched2006
Current statusOnline

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

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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

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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 [email protected].

Customers / User Privacy

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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

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Zamzar is currently free to use, but there is a limit of two conversions per hour for files up to 100MB. 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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b Zhang, Michael, "Interview with Zamzar", Folksonomy, November 11, 2006 (archived version 2008)
  2. ^ "Zamzar Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  3. ^ Srivastava, Shivani (July 19, 2017). "Zamzar file converter: in-Depth Review". TechGYD.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  4. ^ Zamzar, File Converter (2022-12-07). "Converters: Converters for all popular file formats". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  5. ^ "Zamzar - File Conversion API - About Us". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  6. ^ "Zamzar - free online converter". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Lifehacker – Online file conversion with Zamzar
  9. ^ "Realtime File Conversions - Better, Faster, Stronger!". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  10. ^ Zamzar, The Zamzar Team (2021-02-02). "Compress Your Files in a Click with Zamzar!". Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  11. ^ File Compression, Zamzar. "Compress Files". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  12. ^ Team, The Zamzar (2015-01-26). "Announcing the file conversion API". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  13. ^ "Zamzar - File Conversion API - Documentation". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  14. ^ 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
  15. ^ Fisher, Tim (June 11, 2018). "Zamzar Review". Lifewire.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  16. ^ Team, The Zamzar (2012-02-10). "Convert files by email". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  17. ^ "Zamzar powers new Xerox "Audio Document" app". The Zamzar Blog. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  18. ^ "Zamzar Terms of Service". Zamzar Terms of Service. 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  19. ^ "Zamzar Privacy Policy". Zamzar Privacy Policy. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  20. ^ "Zamzar and GDPR". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  21. ^ "Zamzar Data Processing Agreement". Zamzar Data Processing Agreement. 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  22. ^ "Convert file types - signup for Zamzar". Zamzar.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  23. ^ 10 Worst App Names – PC Magazine
  24. ^ Team, The Zamzar (2019-07-12). "Landing on Zamzar: How we chose our company name". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
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