Zamzar

Zamzar is an online file converter, created by brothers Mike and Chris Whyley in England in 2006.[1] It allows users to convert files without downloading a software tool, and supports over 1,200 different conversion types.[2] Since it was started the service has converted over 400 million files for users[3] from 245 different countries, including Antarctica.[4] The service supports the conversion of documents, images, audio, video, e-Books, CAD files and compressed file formats.[5]

Zamzar Ltd
Type of site
Online file conversion
Available inEnglish
OwnerMike and Chris Whyley
URLwww.zamzar.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
Launched30 October 2006 (2006-10-30)
Current statusOnline

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.[6] Once conversion is complete, users can immediately download the file from their web browser.[7] Users can also choose to receive an email with a link to download the converted file.

File conversion API

in 2015 Zamzar launched a file conversion API, allowing users to integrate file conversion capabilities into their own websites and applications.[8] Sample code is provided to allow users to integrate file conversion capabilities in C#, Java, Node.js, PHP, Python and cURL.[9] Zamzar also maintains a project on GitHub which allows users to perform file conversion from the command line on Linux, MacOS or Windows systems.[10]

Email file conversion

It is also possible to send files for conversion by emailing them to Zamzar.[11] Zamzar launched this capability in 2012,[12] 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

Zamzar does not publish lists of customers that use their services, but in 2019 they announced[13] that Xerox Corporation would be using the Zamzar API to help power conversions in the Xerox Audio Document application.

User privilege levels

Zamzar is currently free to use, but there is a limit of two conversions per day. 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.[14]

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][15] The founders of the service considered three other names – Konvertieren, Khamailen and Obrogo – before settling on Zamzar.[16]

See also

References
  1. Zhang, Michael, "Interview with Zamzar", Folksonomy, November 11, 2006 (archived version 2008)
  2. Srivastava, Shivani (July 19, 2017). "Zamzar file converter: in-Depth Review". TechGYD.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  3. "Word to PDF - Convert your DOC to PDF for Free Online". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  4. "Zamzar - File Conversion API - About Us". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  5. "Zamzar - free online converter". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  6. Lifehacker – Online file conversion with Zamzar
  7. "Realtime File Conversions - Better, Faster, Stronger!". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  8. Team, The Zamzar (2015-01-26). "Announcing the file conversion API". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  9. "Zamzar - File Conversion API - Documentation". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  10. 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
  11. Fisher, Tim (June 11, 2018). "Zamzar Review". Lifewire.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  12. Team, The Zamzar (2012-02-10). "Convert files by email". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  13. "Zamzar powers new Xerox "Audio Document" app". The Zamzar Blog. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  14. "Convert file types - signup for Zamzar". Zamzar.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  15. 10 Worst App Names – PC Magazine
  16. 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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