Zamzaris anonlinefile converterand compressor, created by brothers Mike and Chris Whyley inEnglandin 2006.[1][2]It allows users to convert files online, without downloading asoftwaretool, 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]
 The logo of Zamzar | |
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 |
[7]Users can type in aURLor 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 anAdobe PDFfile to aMicrosoftWord 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 newfile compressionservice.[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
editin 2015 Zamzar launched a file conversionAPI,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 inC#,Java,Node.js,PHP,PythonandcURL.[13]Zamzar also maintains a project onGitHubwhich allows users to perform file conversion from the command line onLinux,MacOSorWindowssystems.[14]
Email file conversion
editIt 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
editZamzar does not publish lists of customers that use their services, but in 2019 they announced[17]thatXerox Corporationwould 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 theGeneral 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
editZamzar is currently free to use, but there is a limit of two conversions per hour for files up to 100MB. Users can pay a monthlysubscriptionin order to access preferential features, such as unlimited file conversions, online file management, shorter response and queuing times and other benefits.[22]
Naming etymology
editIts name comes from Franz Kafka'sThe Metamorphosis.Its main character is calledGregor Samsaand it is from his surname that Zamzar is derived.[1][23]The founders of the service considered three other names – Konvertieren, Khamailen andObrogo– before settling on Zamzar.[24]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abZhang, Michael,"Interview with Zamzar",Folksonomy,November 11, 2006 (archived version 2008)
- ^"Zamzar Limited".Companies House.Retrieved2022-12-07.
- ^Srivastava, Shivani (July 19, 2017)."Zamzar file converter: in-Depth Review".TechGYD.com.Retrieved2019-02-11.
- ^Zamzar, File Converter (2022-12-07)."Converters: Converters for all popular file formats".www.zamzar.com.Retrieved2022-12-07.
- ^"Zamzar - File Conversion API - About Us".developers.zamzar.com.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^"Zamzar - free online converter".www.zamzar.com.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^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.Retrieved2022-12-07.
- ^Lifehacker – Online file conversion with Zamzar
- ^"Realtime File Conversions - Better, Faster, Stronger!".The Zamzar Blog.2018-12-10.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^Zamzar, The Zamzar Team (2021-02-02)."Compress Your Files in a Click with Zamzar!".Zamzar Blog.Retrieved2022-12-07.
- ^File Compression, Zamzar."Compress Files".www.zamzar.com.Retrieved2022-12-07.
- ^Team, The Zamzar (2015-01-26)."Announcing the file conversion API".The Zamzar Blog.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^"Zamzar - File Conversion API - Documentation".developers.zamzar.com.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^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,retrieved2019-09-03
- ^Fisher, Tim (June 11, 2018)."Zamzar Review".Lifewire.com.Retrieved2019-02-11.
- ^Team, The Zamzar (2012-02-10)."Convert files by email".The Zamzar Blog.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^"Zamzar powers new Xerox" Audio Document "app".The Zamzar Blog.2019-01-11.Retrieved2019-09-03.
- ^"Zamzar Terms of Service".Zamzar Terms of Service.2018-11-26.Retrieved2021-04-02.
- ^"Zamzar Privacy Policy".Zamzar Privacy Policy.2020-09-16.Retrieved2021-04-02.
- ^"Zamzar and GDPR".The Zamzar Blog.2018-04-30.Retrieved2021-04-02.
- ^"Zamzar Data Processing Agreement".Zamzar Data Processing Agreement.2018-05-25.Retrieved2021-04-02.
- ^"Convert file types - signup for Zamzar".Zamzar.com.Retrieved2012-06-16.
- ^10 Worst App Names – PC Magazine
- ^Team, The Zamzar (2019-07-12)."Landing on Zamzar: How we chose our company name".The Zamzar Blog.Retrieved2019-09-03.