Videoconferencing and messaging software

Jitsi (from Bulgarian: wires is a collection of free and open-source multiplatform voice (VoIP), video conferencing and instant messaging applications for the web platform, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android.[4][5][6][7] The Jitsi project began with the Jitsi Desktop (previously known as SIP Communicator). With the growth of WebRTC, the project team focus shifted to the Jitsi Videobridge for allowing web-based multi-party video calling. Later the team added Jitsi Meet, a full video conferencing application that includes web, Android, and iOS clients. Jitsi also operates meet.jit.si, a version of Jitsi Meet hosted by Jitsi for free community use. Other projects include: Jigasi, lib-jitsi-meet, Jidesha, and Jitsi.[8][9][10]

Jitsi has received support from various institutions such as the NLnet Foundation,[11][12] the University of Strasbourg and the Region of Alsace,[13] the European Commission[14] and it has also had multiple participations in the Google Summer of Code program.[15][16]

Work on Jitsi (then SIP Communicator) started in 2003 in the context of a student project by Emil Ivov at the University of Strasbourg.[17] It was originally released as an example video phone in the JAIN-SIP stack and later spun off as a standalone project.[18]

In 2009, Emil Ivov founded the BlueJimp company, which has employed some of Jitsi's main contributors,[19][20] in order to offer professional support and development services[21] related to the project.

In 2011, after successfully adding support for audio/video communication over XMPP's Jingle extensions, the project was renamed to Jitsi since it was no longer "a SIP only Communicator".[22][23] This name originates from the Bulgarian "" (wires).[24]

Jitsi introduced the Videobridge in 2013 to support multiparty video calling with its Jitsi clients using a new Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) architecture. Later that year initial support was added to the Jitsi Videobridge allowing WebRTC calling from the browser. To demonstrate how Jitsi Videobridge could be used as a production service, BlueJimp offered a free use of its hosted system at meet.jit.si.[25]

On November 4, 2014, "Jitsi + Ostel" scored 6 out of 7 points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's secure messaging scorecard. They lost a point because there has not been a recent independent code audit.[26]

On February 1, 2015, Hristo Terezov, Ingo Bauersachs and the rest of the team released[27] version 2.6 from their stand at the Free and Open Source Software Developers' European Meeting 2015 event in Brussels. This release includes security fixes, removes support of the deprecated MSN protocol, along with SSLv3 in XMPP. Among other notable improvements, the OSX version bundles a Java8 runtime, enables echo cancelling by default, and uses the CoreAudio subsystem. The Linux build addresses font issues with the GTK+ native look and feel, and fixes some long-standing issues about microphone level on call setup when using the PulseAudio sound system. This release also adds the embedded Java database Hyper SQL Database to improve performance for users with huge configuration files, a feature which is disabled by default. A full list of changes is available on the project web site.[28]

Atlassian acquired BlueJimp on April 5, 2015. After the acquisition, the new Jitsi team under Atlassian ceased meaningful new development work on the Jitsi Desktop project and expanded its efforts on projects related to the Jitsi Videobridge and Jitsi Meet. Regular contributions from the open source community have maintained the Jitsi Desktop project.[29][30][31]

In 2017, jitsi was added as a widget to element.[32]

In October 2018, 8x8 acquired Jitsi from Atlassian.[33]

The Jitsi open source repository on GitHub currently contains 132 repositories. The major projects include:[34]

Jitsi Meet is an open source JavaScript WebRTC application used primarily for video conferencing. In addition to audio and video, screen sharing is available, and new members can be invited via a generated link. The interface is accessible via web browser or with a mobile app.[38] The Jitsi Meet server software can be downloaded and installed on Linux-based computers.[39] Jitsi owner 8x8 maintains a free public-use server for up to 100 participants at meet.jit.si.[40]

Key features of Jitsi Meet

Jitsi Videobridge is a video conferencing solution supporting WebRTC that allows multiuser video communication. It is a Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) and only forwards the selected streams to other participating users in the video conference call, therefore, CPU horsepower is not that critical for performance.[43][44]

Jitsi spawned some sister projects such as the Jitsi Videobridge Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) and Jitsi Meet, a video and web conferencing application. To prevent misunderstanding due to the increasing popularity of these other Jitsi projects, the Jitsi client application was rebranded as Jitsi Desktop.

Originally the project was mostly used as an experimentation tool because of its support for IPv6.[45][46] Through the years, as the project gathered members, it also added support for protocols other than SIP.

Jitsi Desktop is no longer actively maintained by the Jitsi team, but it is still maintained by the community.[35]

Features

Jitsi supports multiple operating systems, including Windows as well as Unix-like systems such as Linux, Mac OS X and BSD. The mobile apps can be downloaded on the App Store for iOS and on the Google Play Store and F-droid platform for Android.[47] It also includes:[48]

In an April 2020 test of video conferencing services, US product review website Wirecutter recommended Jitsi Meet as one of its two picks (after the more feature-rich Cisco Webex which it found preferable for large groups and enterprises), stating that Jitsi was "easy to use and reliable" and that "in our testing, the video quality and audio quality were both greatnoticeably sharper and crisper than on Zoom or Webex".[53]

In a follow up review in November 2020 Wirecutter lowered its previous rating, stating that Jitsi was, other than Google Hangouts, "the best, easiest-to-use free services you can find", but also pointed out that "the video and audio quality were both acceptable, though our panelists rated them among the lowest of all the services we tested".[54]

Jitsi has been well adopted in not-for-profit tech sector as default alternative to corporate tools. In mid March 2020 popular Lyon-based tech NGO Framasoft reported that their Jitsi servers were even overloaded by use of state institutions. Jitsi has been test-used as Wikimedia Meet in Wikimedia Foundation on Wikimedia Cloud Services since spring 2020, with high adoption rates initially but mixed reviews.[55]

Read more here:

Jitsi - Wikipedia

Jitsi GitHub

Welcome to the Jitsi organization, home to the Jitsi projects.

Jitsi Meet - Secure, Simple and Scalable Video Conferences that you use as a standalone app or embed in your web application.

JavaScript 18.7k 5.9k

Jitsi Videobridge is a WebRTC compatible video router or SFU that lets build highly scalable video conferencing infrastructure (i.e., up to hundreds of conferences per server).

Kotlin 2.7k 945

A low-level JS video API that allows adding a completely custom video experience to web apps.

JavaScript 1.2k 1k

Jigasi: a server-side application acting as a gateway to Jitsi Meet conferences. Currently allows regular SIP clients to join meetings and provides transcription capabilities.

Java 434 260

Jitsi Meet on Docker

JavaScript 2.6k 1.2k

Jitsi Meet desktop application powered by

JavaScript 1.3k 410

Jitsi Meet - Secure, Simple and Scalable Video Conferences that you use as a standalone app or embed in your web application.

A low-level JS video API that allows adding a completely custom video experience to web apps.

JItsi COnference FOcus is a server side focus component used in Jitsi Meet conferences.

Jitsi Videobridge is a WebRTC compatible video router or SFU that lets build highly scalable video conferencing infrastructure (i.e., up to hundreds of conferences per server).

Jigasi: a server-side application acting as a gateway to Jitsi Meet conferences. Currently allows regular SIP clients to join meetings and provides transcription capabilities.

Link:

Jitsi GitHub

Blog

For a while now Jitsi Meet has been using the RNNoise library to calculate voice audio detection scores for audio input tracks and leveraging those to implement functionality such as talk while muted and noisy mic detection. However, RNnoise also has the capability to denoise audio.

In this article well briefly go through the steps taken to implement noise suppression using RNnoise in Jitsi Meet.

Whats RNNoise anyway?

RNNoise, as the authors describe it, combines classic signal processing with deep learning, but its small and fast, this makes it perfect for real time audio and does a good job at denoising.

Its written in C which allows us to (relatively) easily use it on the Web by compiling it as a WASM module, that combined with a couple of optimizations gets us noise suppression functionality with very little added latency.

Working with Audio Worklets

Previously Jitsi Meet processed audio using ScriptProcessorNode which handles audio samples on the main UI thread. Because the audio track wasnt altered and we simply extracted some information from a copy of the track, performance issues werent apparent. With noise suppression the track gets modified, so latency is noticeable, not to mention that any interference on the main UI thread will impact the audio quality, so we switched to audio worklets.

Audio worklets run in a separate thread from the main UI thread, so samples can be processed without interference. We wont go into the specifics of implementing one as there are plenty of awesome resources on the web such as: thisand this. Our worklet implementation can be found here.

Webpack integration

Even though using an audio worklet looks fairly straightforward there were a couple of bumps along the road.

First off, and probably the most frustrating part was making them work with webpacks dev server.

Long story short, the dev server has some neat features such as hot module replacement and live reloading, these rely on some bootstrap code added to the output JavaScript bundle. The issue here is that audio worklet code runs under the AudioWorkletGlobalScopes context which doesnt know anything about constructs like window, this or self, however the aforementioned boilerplate code makes ample use of them and there doesnt seem to be a way to tell it that the context in which its running is a worklet.

We tried several approaches but the solution that worked for us was to ignore the dev server bootstrap code altogether for the worklets entry point, which can be configured in webpack config as follows:

That took care of the dev server, however production webpack bundling also introduced boilerplate which made use of the forbidden worklet objects, but in this case its easily configurable by specifying the following output options:

At this point we had a working worklet (pun intended) that didnt break our development environment.

WASM in audio worklets.

Next came adding in the RNnoise WASM module. Jitisi uses RNnoise compiled with emscripten (more details in the project: https://github.com/jitsi/rnnoise-wasm). With the default settings the WASM module will load and compile asynchronously, however because the worklet loads without waiting for the resolution of promises we need to make everything synchronous, so we inline the WASM file by passing in -s SINGLE_FILE=1 to emscripten and we also tell it to synchronously compile it with -s WASM_ASYNC_COMPILATION=0. With that in place everything will be loaded and ready to go when audio samples start coming in.

Efficient audio processing.

Audio processing in worklets happens on the process() callback method in the AudioWorkletProcessor implementation at a fixed rate of 128 samples (this cant be configured as with ScriptProcessorNodes), however RNnoise expects 480 samples for each call to its denoise method rnnoise_process_frame.

To make this work we implemented a circular buffer that minimizes copy operations for optimal performance. It works by having both the buffered samples and the ones that have already been denoised on the same Float32Array with a roll over policy. The full implementation can be found here.

To summarize, we keep track of how many audio samples we have buffered, once we have enough of them (480 to be precise) we send a view of that data to RNnoise where it gets denoised in-place (i.e. no additional copies are required). At this point the circular buffer has a denoised part and possibly some residue samples that didnt fit in the initial 480, which will get processed in the next iteration. The process repeats until we reach the end of the circular buffer at which point we simply start from the beginning and overwrite stale samples; we consider them stale because at this point they have already been denoised and sent.

The worklet code gets compiled as a separate .js bundle and lazy loaded as needed.

Use it in JaaS / using the iframe API

If you are a JaaS customer (or are using Jitsi Meet through the iframe API) we have added an API command to turn this on programmatically too! Check it out.

Check it out!

In Jitsi Meet this feature can be activated by simply clicking on the Noise Suppression button.

Since in this case a sound file is probably worth more than 1000 words, here is an audio sample demonstrating the denoising:

Original audio:

Denoised audio:

Your personal meetings team.

Author: Andrei Gavrilescu

Continued here:

Enhanced noise suppression in Jitsi Meet - Jitsi

2020 has been a year of an overhaul, bringing all but the most archaic of businesses into the new, digitally-driven world. Figures reported by Inc indicate that only 12% of businessesnow feel they do not need a digital presence, meaning that the vast majority of American enterprises will find themselves online.

This poses a challenge tothe world of communications. Firstly, this is a lot of new business that wants to connect with customers how best is that achieved? Secondly, with a market so heavily saturated, only those businesses who have the best channels internally and externally will net the prize of new custom. Next-gen tech is driving business forward in this regard.

Chief in these innovations is the virtual business both internally and externally. The necessity of conducting business through digital mediums has created a demand for staging and collaboration done entirely through the web. TheHarvard Business Review term this virtual office, and its a new way of thinking and working that is only enabled through cutting-edge comms technology.

Hardware phone systems and call centers simply dont cut it anymore, and in order to have the speed and clarity of communication to be able to speak to colleagues first and then customers after the fact, cloud-based communication systemsare king. The cutting edge of this tech combines several disparate technologies cloud comms, VoIP, and conferencing under one banner. This has already been achieved, but questions remain over the safety and security of these solutions.

There are a few big names in the online comms arena Zoom, Facetime, Skype, and Signal among them. For casual organization, see Houseparty and Jitsi. The problem that has arisen is that half of these services were never intended for the huge scale use they see today, and security flaws have been located and run with on multiple occasions as highlighted by The Guardian.

A big challenge for businesses is finding an affordable solution that also has high levels of security assurance. As a result, businesses are increasingly turning to proprietary and privately developed software to help enable their business comms. This has been to the benefit of both the business and its consumer base.

For inspiration, look no further than Crestron. Lauded by Forbes as one of theoriginal players in office automation, they have, nevertheless, been a minor player since their foundation 30 years ago. However, they are rapidly building interest through their bespoke systems that have been offered to businesses with one huge focus security. Along with factors that other businesses prioritize, such as comfort and quality, they have reportedly put the security factor at the center of their development of new software and hardware.

As long as communications firms continue to follow this trend, theyll help businesses get ahead. The security issues with those most famous video conferencing tools are now well understood and have made an impact on consumer markets. Having systems that are fit for purpose and express a level of assurance that customers can rely on will help businesses to flourish in the hotly contested digital age.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to ourTwitterorFacebook.

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Focusing on next-gen comms in the new digital world - KnowTechie

Former RingCentral COO Dave Sipes will become the new 8x8 CEO, a move that brings a leader with proven strengths in effectively managing business operations to the video conferencing and call center company, analysts said.

It was announced last week that Sipes will replace outgoing CEO Vik Verma. Sipes oversaw RingCentral's business operations as revenue grew from $10 million to $1 billion in 12 years.

"It was the smart choice," said Zeus Kerravala, founder and analyst at ZK Research. "They need an execution person, and Sipes led [RingCentral] through its biggest years of growth."

Verma did well with product development, but he was weak in sales and marketing, analysts said. Sipes will likely energize the latter.

"They were doing really well on the product side," said 451 Research analyst Raul Castanon of 8x8. "Now they really need to balance that out."

During Verma's tenure, 8x8 updated its communications platform by acquiring video conferencing company Jitsi in 2018 and communications-platform-as-a-service provider Wavecell a year later.In 2017, the company bought Sameroom for its messaging tool that was interoperable with apps from different vendors.

Sipes's experience with several RingCentral partnerships could prove useful in bolstering sales operations as the new 8x8 CEO, Castanon said. RingCentral partnered with Avaya last year and Atos and Alcatel-Lucent this year to bring its UCaaS offering to companies still using its partners' legacy on-premises UC products.

"What gets my attention the most is the trajectory in the last two or three years in terms of what RingCentral did with partners on the business side," Castanon said. "[Sipes] was not the only one involved in that, but he was probably very influential in that strategy."

Sipes' initial challenges as 8x8 CEO include reversing the company's slowing revenue growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the small and medium-size businesses upon which 8x8 relies were hit hard economically.

See the article here:

New 8x8 CEO expected to improve business operations - TechTarget

Abhishek Kankani, Kushagra Vaish, and Palash Golecha would participate in several coding events and hackathons while at VIT Vellore, much like many other blue engineers and coders before them.

While they landed lucrative jobs after completing their engineering Abhishek (Accenture Analytics), Kushagra (Paypal), and Palash (CloudSek) the trio had decided, if they would ever build a startup, they would do it together.

However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and a dramatic shift to remote working, they realised most of their meetings were not productive and were very tiring.

"We discussed it with each other and realised that it was something that all three of us felt, and we decided to look for a solution. After not finding a platform that offered what we were looking for, we decided to build it ourselves, Abhishek Kankani tells YourStory.

This led them to start Dyte a Made in India video calling platform that allows you to integrate plug-ins (apps) right into your video call. The Delhi-NCR-headquartered startup was founded in September 2020 and has been selected for Y Combinator - Winter 2021 batch.

At present, the co-founders work remotely, where Abhishek works out of Faridabad, Kushagra out of Haridwar, and Palash is based out of Rajasthan.

Kushagra, Founder of Dyte

On Dyte, users can choose from pre-built plug-ins or even build their own set of plug-ins to suit their use-cases. Nearly all the online meetings end up non-productive as most of the time users are watching a screen-share, and the process seems slow and laggy.

Abhishek explains, "We feel that video calls need to be more than what they are right now. You should be able to collaborate right in a call rather than having to move between multiple tabs or even have back and forth meetings for the tiniest things. We help overcome this with a plug-in approach. For example, if you need to have a sprint planning meeting, you can just add a Trello instance to the call and everyone can add their tasks to it right away. This makes such calls more productive. We're also a purely Indian replacement to video platforms like Zoom.

Palash, Founder of Dyte

Dyte has an in-house video calling stack built on top of WebRTC one of the best technologies for video communication that allows the team to customise and include additional features as and when needed.

To use Dyte, users can hop on to the website and can get started. When on the call, users can add a plug-in from the Dyte plug-in store by simply clicking on the plug-ins button present on the bottom right of the call. Presently, it has a Google Drive plug-in, where everyone on the call can view the files and make edits if they have access to the file. It also has WhiteBoard as a plug-in.

The next set of plug-ins will include Chess, Trello, Figma, and Miro Whiteboard.Users can choose the required plug-in, which gets started for everyone present on the call.

We're pre-traction as such, but we have had a simple video calling service running since September 7, and we've had over 6.7K sessions created ever since. It was a friends' and family launch, and now, we see people coming back to use the platform because of its ease of use, as well as the quality of the call even with lower bandwidth, Abhishek adds.

Remote working has transformed the way teams meet and communicate. Owing to this, many startups are entering the video calling space, and US-based Zoom has seen 30X growth in users since the pandemic began.

Other players like Google Meet, GoToMeeting, Bengaluru-based Airmeet, VideoMeet, Jitsi Meet, and MeetFox have also risen to prominence in recent months.

In fact, Airmeet recently raised $3 million in funding to push its offerings in the aftermath of the pandemic that forced widespread event cancellations.

Dytes team says the startups offerings are different as it has the ability to have an entire plug-in on the call, so people will not have to move out of the call. However, its key differentiator lies in the fact that it allows users to create their own plug-ins suited for their needs.

At present, Dyte is in its pre-revenue stage. It plans to launch the Beta version of the application to an initial set of customers and subsequently, work on the feedback received from them.

Abhishek says the startup plans to onboard developers on its "Dyte Developer Programme" to build their plug-ins and make it available to the users.

"Our primary focus is India and the Indian startups in the first phase, and we plan to become the default app used for collaborative meetings, team stand-ups, as well as quick catchup with friends, says Abhishek.

Read the rest here:

This Y Combinator startup aims to be the Zoom alternative for all Indian startups, SMEs - YourStory

As the Coronavirus-led pandemic has locked up most of the global population indoors, working from home using the help of technology has become a norm in 2020. So, with the mandatory lockdowns in place, we have seen a massive increase in the usage of video-conferencing platforms like Skype and Zoom. However, virtual meetings still lack some of the key features of in-person meetings like those hallway talks between you and your colleague before. So, to make virtual meetings more like physical ones, MIT researchers have created an open-source video-conferencing platform that supports impromptu conversations.

The announcement of the new platform, Minglr, recently came from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Developed by a team of researchers of the school, Minglr is specifically designed to support those private and sudden conversations that people have following or prior to an office meeting. Its aim is to make remote working much more desirable (Indians already like it though) by making virtual meetings much more like real, physical ones.

I think ad-hoc interactionsthose hallway conversationsare among the most important things that people miss in todays work-from-home environment, says the Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the team leader of the project, Thomas W. Malone.

So, with the aim to make the virtual meetings more interesting, Professor Malone collaborated with an MIT Sloan Ph.D. student, Jaeyoon Song, and the Associate Professor for Information Systems and Network Science at the DAmore-McKim School of Business, Chris Riedl to develop a prototype open-source software for video-conferencing called Jitsi.

So, Minglr works mostly like any other video-conferencing platform ou there in the market. However, when you log on to the platform and join a meeting, you will see a list of people who are available to talk. The system also provides a list of people who specifically want to talk to you. You can then select anyone from the list to enter a private room to chat or converse over a video call with that person for as long as you want to.

The open-source platform went for the pilot test at the June MIT Collective Intelligence 2020 meeting. And according to the working report by the team, most of the people who attended the meeting hinted that sudden conversations in lobbies, hallways, or by the coffee machine were the most important factors that attracted guests at academic conferences.

Now, the team of researchers is planning to make Minglr available for anyone who wants to use the platform. The researchers also want developers to use and as it is an open-source platform, they even want the developers to contribute their part to make it more useful in the future.

The rest is here:

MITs New Video-Conferencing Platform is All About Impromptu Conversations - Beebom

As the Coronavirus-led pandemic has locked up many of the international inhabitants indoors, working from residence utilizing the assistance of expertise has turn out to be a norm in 2020. So, with the obligatory lockdowns in place, we have now seen a large improve within the utilization of video-conferencing platforms like Skype and Zoom. However, digital conferences nonetheless lack a number of the key options of in-person conferences like these hallway talks between you and your colleague earlier than. So, to make digital conferences extra like bodily ones, MIT researchers have created an open-source video-conferencing platform that helps impromptu conversations.

The announcement of the brand new platform, Minglr, lately got here from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Developed by a staff of researchers of the college, Minglr is particularly designed to assist these non-public and sudden conversations that individuals have following or previous to an workplace assembly. Its goal is to make distant working rather more fascinating (Indians already prefer it although) by making digital conferences rather more like actual, bodily ones.

I think ad-hoc interactionsthose hallway conversationsare among the most important things that people miss in todays work-from-home environment, says the Professor of Management on the MIT Sloan School of Management and the staff chief of the undertaking, Thomas W. Malone.

So, with the goal to make the digital conferences extra attention-grabbing, Professor Malone collaborated with an MIT Sloan Ph.D. scholar, Jaeyoon Song, and the Associate Professor for Information Systems and Network Science on the DAmore-McKim School of Business, Chris Riedl to develop a prototype open-source software program for video-conferencing referred to as Jitsi.

So, Minglr works principally like every other video-conferencing platform ou there available in the market. However, when you go online to the platform and be part of a gathering, you will notice a listing of people who find themselves accessible to speak. The system additionally supplies a listing of people that particularly wish to discuss to you. You can then choose anybody from the listing to enter a personal room to talk or converse over a video name with that particular person for so long as you wish to.

The open-source platform went for the pilot check on the June MIT Collective Intelligence 2020 assembly. And in response to the working report by the staff, most people who attended the assembly hinted that sudden conversations in lobbies, hallways, or by the espresso machine had been a very powerful elements that attracted visitors at educational conferences.

Now, the staff of researchers is planning to make Minglr accessible for anybody who needs to make use of the platform. The researchers additionally need builders to make use of and as its an open-source platform, they even need the builders to contribute their half to make it extra helpful sooner or later.

Excerpt from:

MITs Video-Conferencing Platform is All About Impromptu Conversations - Enter21st

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --During the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom, Skype, and other videoconferencing systems have become our lifelines for workplace communication. But while those platforms work well for many kinds of virtual meetings and conferences, their capacity to replicate the kinds of spontaneous, informal interactions that take place when people are together in person is limited.

Enter Minglr,a new software platform developed by researchers at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Minglr is designed to support the kinds of impromptu, private conversations that individuals have before and after meetings, in the lobby during breaks of conferences, and around the office coffee machine. By making these interactions possible online, systems like Minglr can further boost the desirability and feasibility of remote work, learning, and professional networking.

"I think ad-hoc interactionsthose 'hallway conversations'are among the most important things that people miss in today's work-from-home environment," says Thomas W. Malone, the Patrick J. McGovern (1959) Professor of Managementat MIT Sloan and the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, who led the Minglr research team. "From a collective intelligence standpoint, lots of research suggests that those random encounters are key to creative innovations in cities, research labs, companies, and elsewhere. And we know from our own personal experiences that they are also critical to making new professional connections, forming social bonds, and building camaraderie in a group. But most people don't realize how straightforward it is to create videoconferencing software that supports these ad-hoc interactions."

"We want to demonstrate what is possible, and we hope that all major videoconferencing systems will implement functionality like that in Minglr."

To create Minglr, Prof. Malone teamed up with Jaeyoon Song, an incoming MIT Sloan PhD student, and Chris Riedl,associate professor for Information Systems and Network Science at the D'Amore-McKim School of BusinessatNortheasternUniversity. Together, they developed a prototype of the software, building on an open source videoconferencing system called jitsi.

The team plans to make Minglr available as open source software to anyone who is interested in using the tool, including developers who would like to contribute to it.

It works like this: At a virtual meeting or conference, participants and attendees log on to Minglr and see a list of people who are available to talk. The system lets them select the ones they want to speak with. They can also see the people who want to talk to them. And if they select one of those people, then both parties enter into a private video room where they can chat for as long or as short a time as they wish.

A working paper the team just released describes a pilot test of Minglr at the June MIT Collective Intelligence 2020 meeting, which was held online as a virtual conference. In one survey reported in the working paper, conference attendees indicated thatconversations in hallways, lobbies, and at social events were the most important part of attending an academic conference. And in another survey, 86% of participants who used the Minglr system successfully said that they thought future online conferences should employ something like it.

"The positive feedback we received on Minglr has helped us see new pathways for its functionality," says Song. "We knew that the system could be valuable at virtual business meetings and professional conferences, but now we see potential uses in virtual classes, parties, and other kinds ofsocial engagements. Minglr allows you to meet new people, chat with folks you already know, and spark different kinds of conversations. With Minglr, we see a future that involves much richer and deeper online interaction."

About MIT Sloan School of ManagementMIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu

For further information, contact:

Paul Denning

or

Patricia Favreau

Director of Media Relations

Associate Director of Media Relations

617-253-0576

617-253-3492

denning@mit.edu

pfavreau@mit.edu

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Introducing Minglr: New open source software developed at MIT Sloan helps overcome the limitations of videoconferences by supporting impromptu...

An analysis of Web Conferencing market has been provided in the latest report available at Arcognizance.com that primarily focuses on the market trends, demand spectrum, and future prospects of this industry over the forecast period. Furthermore, the report provides a detailed statistical overview in terms of trends outlining the geographical opportunities and contributions by prominent industry share contenders.

Download PDF Sample of Web Conferencing Market report @ https://www.arcognizance.com/enquiry-sample/1045137

The report mainly studies the size, recent trends and development status of the Web Conferencing market, as well as investment opportunities, government policy, market dynamics (drivers, restraints, opportunities), supply chain and competitive landscape. Technological innovation and advancement will further optimize the performance of the product, making it more widely used in downstream applications. Moreover, Porters Five Forces Analysis (potential entrants, suppliers, substitutes, buyers, industry competitors) provides crucial information for knowing the Web Conferencing market.

Major Players in the global Web Conferencing market include:, Zoho, Free Conferencing Corporation, LogMeIn Join.Me, ReadyTalk, Google, Zoom Video Conferencing, AT & T Connect Support, UberConference, PGi, ezTalks, IBM, Fuze, Citrix, Jitsi, ClickMeeting, GoToMeeting, Microsoft, AnyMeeting, Eventials, Cisco WebEx, Adobe

On the basis of types, the Web Conferencing market is primarily split into:, Hardware Devices, Software Services

On the basis of applications, the market covers:, Education, Financial, Medical, Government, Others

Brief about Web Conferencing Market Report with [emailprotected]https://www.arcognizance.com/report/global-web-conferencing-market-report-2019-competitive-landscape-trends-and-opportunities

Geographically, the report includes the research on production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, and forecast (2014-2026) of the following regions:, United States, Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland), China, Japan, India , Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam), Central and South America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria), Other Regions

Chapter 1 provides an overview of Web Conferencing market, containing global revenue, global production, sales, and CAGR. The forecast and analysis of Web Conferencing market by type, application, and region are also presented in this chapter.

Chapter 2 is about the market landscape and major players. It provides competitive situation and market concentration status along with the basic information of these players.

Chapter 3 provides a full-scale analysis of major players in Web Conferencing industry. The basic information, as well as the profiles, applications and specifications of products market performance along with Business Overview are offered.

Chapter 4 gives a worldwide view of Web Conferencing market. It includes production, market share revenue, price, and the growth rate by type.

Chapter 5 focuses on the application of Web Conferencing, by analyzing the consumption and its growth rate of each application.

Chapter 6 is about production, consumption, export, and import of Web Conferencing in each region.

Chapter 7 pays attention to the production, revenue, price and gross margin of Web Conferencing in markets of different regions. The analysis on production, revenue, price and gross margin of the global market is covered in this part.

Chapter 8 concentrates on manufacturing analysis, including key raw material analysis, cost structure analysis and process analysis, making up a comprehensive analysis of manufacturing cost.

Chapter 9 introduces the industrial chain of Web Conferencing. Industrial chain analysis, raw material sources and downstream buyers are analyzed in this chapter.

Chapter 10 provides clear insights into market dynamics.

Chapter 11 prospects the whole Web Conferencing market, including the global production and revenue forecast, regional forecast. It also foresees the Web Conferencing market by type and application.

Chapter 12 concludes the research findings and refines all the highlights of the study.

Chapter 13 introduces the research methodology and sources of research data for your understanding.

Years considered for this report:, Historical Years: 2014-2018, Base Year: 2019, Estimated Year: 2019, Forecast Period: 2019-2026,

Some Point of Table of Content:

Chapter One: Web Conferencing Market Overview

Chapter Two: Global Web Conferencing Market Landscape by Player

Chapter Three: Players Profiles

Chapter Four: Global Web Conferencing Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter Five: Global Web Conferencing Market Analysis by Application

Chapter Six: Global Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2014-2019)

Chapter Seven: Global Web Conferencing Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2014-2019)

Chapter Eight: Web Conferencing Manufacturing Analysis

Chapter Nine: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter Ten: Market Dynamics

Chapter Eleven: Global Web Conferencing Market Forecast (2019-2026)

Chapter Twelve: Research Findings and Conclusion

Chapter Thirteen: Appendix continued

List of tablesList of Tables and FiguresFigure Web Conferencing Product PictureTable Global Web Conferencing Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by TypeTable Profile of Hardware DevicesTable Profile of Software ServicesTable Web Conferencing Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2014-2026)Table Profile of EducationTable Profile of FinancialTable Profile of MedicalTable Profile of GovernmentTable Profile of OthersFigure Global Web Conferencing Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) (2014-2026)Figure United States Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Europe Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Germany Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure UK Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure France Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Italy Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Spain Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Russia Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Poland Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure China Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Japan Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure India Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Southeast Asia Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Malaysia Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Singapore Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Philippines Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Indonesia Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Thailand Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Vietnam Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Central and South America Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Brazil Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Mexico Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Colombia Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Middle East and Africa Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Saudi Arabia Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure United Arab Emirates Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Turkey Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Egypt Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure South Africa Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Nigeria Web Conferencing Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2026)Figure Global Web Conferencing Production Status and Outlook (2014-2026)Table Global Web Conferencing Production by Player (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Production Share by Player (2014-2019)Figure Global Web Conferencing Production Share by Player in 2018Table Web Conferencing Revenue by Player (2014-2019)Table Web Conferencing Revenue Market Share by Player (2014-2019)Table Web Conferencing Price by Player (2014-2019)Table Web Conferencing Manufacturing Base Distribution and Sales Area by PlayerTable Web Conferencing Product Type by PlayerTable Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion PlansTable Zoho ProfileTable Zoho Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Free Conferencing Corporation ProfileTable Free Conferencing Corporation Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table LogMeIn Join.Me ProfileTable LogMeIn Join.Me Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table ReadyTalk ProfileTable ReadyTalk Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Google ProfileTable Google Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Zoom Video Conferencing ProfileTable Zoom Video Conferencing Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table AT & T Connect Support ProfileTable AT & T Connect Support Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table UberConference ProfileTable UberConference Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table PGi ProfileTable PGi Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table ezTalks ProfileTable ezTalks Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table IBM ProfileTable IBM Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Fuze ProfileTable Fuze Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Citrix ProfileTable Citrix Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Jitsi ProfileTable Jitsi Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table ClickMeeting ProfileTable ClickMeeting Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table GoToMeeting ProfileTable GoToMeeting Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Microsoft ProfileTable Microsoft Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table AnyMeeting ProfileTable AnyMeeting Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Eventials ProfileTable Eventials Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Cisco WebEx ProfileTable Cisco WebEx Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Adobe ProfileTable Adobe Web Conferencing Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Production by Type (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Production Market Share by Type (2014-2019)Figure Global Web Conferencing Production Market Share by Type in 2018Table Global Web Conferencing Revenue by Type (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Revenue Market Share by Type (2014-2019)Figure Global Web Conferencing Revenue Market Share by Type in 2018Table Web Conferencing Price by Type (2014-2019)Figure Global Web Conferencing Production Growth Rate of Hardware Devices (2014-2019)Figure Global Web Conferencing Production Growth Rate of Software Services (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption by Application (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption Market Share by Application (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption of Education (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption of Financial (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption of Medical (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption of Government (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption of Others (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption by Region (2014-2019)Table Global Web Conferencing Consumption Market Share by Region (2014-2019)Table United States Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)Table Europe Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)Table China Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)Table Japan Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)Table India Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)Table Southeast Asia Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)Table Central and South America Web Conferencing Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2014-2019)continued

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Web Conferencing Market size, share, Trends, Growth, Emerging Technology, Industry Demand, Statistics, Global Analysis and Opportunities till 2026...

REVIEW Ive been following ClearOne, Inc. and its predecessor companies for over 20 years (back when they supplied both Oprah! and The White House with switchboard / call management hardware and software), so when I was offered the chance to review one of their Unite 20 web / conference cameras, I jumped at the chance to see how their new desktop-level cameras would work in our new work-from-home reality (well, not really new to me, Ive been working from home for many years).

The ClearOne Unite 20 Camera is a USB 2.0 web / desktop conferencing camera. The Unite 20 differs from many other cameras in the it offers not just 1920 x 1080 resolution, but a 120 degree horizontal field of view. This wide angle capability allows the camera to serve as both a personal conferencing camera and conferencing camera for small meeting rooms.

As the Unite 20 is targeted for business-to-business sales or through integrators, the packaging is utilitarian: a simple brown box with the product name, part number, and serial number on a small sticker.

Once you open the box, you are greeted with a packing system that values function over flash.

The Unite 20 camera ships as just a camera with integrated USB cable, a removable monitor grip / friction mount, a tethered lens cover, and a quick start card.

The ClearOne Unite 20 cameras hardware specifications are (lifted from the technical datasheet on ClearOnes website.

Setting up the Unite 20 involves nothing more than

The Unite 20 camera has performed flawlessly over the past month. I have run into intermittent problems with certain video conferencing solutions not wanting to recognize the camera and instead trying to use the camera integrated into my 4-year-old Thinkpad. This problem has been limited to web-based solutions, such as Jitsi and the online classrooms of Wyzant. Both of Jitsi and Wyzant have caused me problems in the past and often switching browsers from Firefox to Chrome or vice-versa will solve the problem. I have had no problems with either WebEx or Zoom.

I have been able to record some instructional video for some of my tutoring students using the Unite 20 and a whiteboard (Im an old-school engineer, I have to draw things out) for times when my students platform of choice didnt support live annotations or have a digital white-board. These videos are too dull to share with a wider audience for safety reasons (I dont want people nodding off and falling out of their chairs), but I did record a brief video showing the low-light capabilities of the Unite 20.

Unfortunately, my computer / software combination doesnt support recording from this camera at full 1920 x 1080 resolution. he Unite 20. I apologize for my presentation in the video. I dont regularly appear on camera, so my delivery is a bit uneven.

Because of my current monitor / speaker setup, it was not practical to mount the Unite 20 on the top of my monitor, so I removed the monitor bracket from the bottom of the camera (one screw) which reveals a standard receiver screw for a small tripod / other mount. I could have used the screw receive on the bottom of the bracket, but I didnt care for the aesthetics.

The ClearOne Unite 20 camera is an excellent addition to my home office communications suite. Both the audio and video features for web conferencing are the best that Ive encountered for a device at this price point. I did have to dial the wide angle settings back for video conferencing so I didnt have to de-clutter so much of my workspace.

My wife was an employee of one of ClearOnes predecessor companies, and she still holds ClearOne stock. She does not hold a significant amount of stock, nor is she involved in either tactical or strategic planning for ClearOne.

Price: $ 129.99 MSRPWhere to buy: AmazonSource: The sample of this product was provided by ClearOne.

Read the rest here:

ClearOne Unite 20 Pro Webcam review The Gadgeteer - The Gadgeteer

Nearly 70,000 people have signed onto two petitions calling on Zoom to offer end-to-end encryption to all of its users, not just ones who pay.

Earlier this month, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan told investors that it would only be offering end-to-end encryption to paid users moving forward. Yuan added that part of the companys decision was so it would be able to work together with FBI.

Free users, for sure, we dont want to give that [end-to-end encryption]. Because we also want to work it together with FBI and local law enforcement, in case some people use Zoom for bad purposes, Yuan said during an earnings call in early June, according toBloomberg News.

Zoom said it took into account feedback from child safety advocates, civil liberties organizations, encryption experts, and law enforcement when making their plan.

The company focused on its beefing up its encryption options after it was called out for incorrectly claiming it offered end-to-end encryption.

Zoom apologized for a discrepancy between the commonly accepted definition of end-to-end encryption and how we were using it and later acquired Keybase, an encryption and security service.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom exploded in popularity and a host of security and privacy concerns were discovered.

But when it launched its revamped product, it fell short of what adovcates were hoping for.

Other apps that have risen in popularity in recent weeks because of protests against police brutality and racism, like Signal, offer free end-to-end encryption to all. Some videoconferincing apps, like Jitsi, also offer end-to-end encryption.

On Tuesday, Mozilla and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) presented an open letter to the company, which was signed by more than 19,000 internet users.

Best-in-class security should not be something that only the wealthy or businesses can afford, the letter reads. Zooms plan not to provide end-to-end encryption to free users will leave exactly those populations that would benefit most from these technologies unprotected.

Meanwhile, a separate petition from groups like Fight for the Future, Media Alliance, and others has gathered more than 50,000 signatures.

Zoom implementing end to end encryption could be one of the single most important things any company could do to keep people safe right now. End to end encryption saves lives, the petition reads before asking users to tell the company: Keep people safe by implementing default end to end encryption for all video, audio, and text chat.

Both the letter and the petition note that Zoom is being used by people participating in protests.

Protests across the country against police brutality and racism have happened in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. Many are using Zoom to coordinate and plan, making encryption important as law enforcement surveils them.

READ MORE:

*First Published: Jun 16, 2020, 2:57 pm

Andrew Wyrich is the deputy tech editor at the Daily Dot. Andrew has written for USA Today, NorthJersey.com, and other newspapers and websites. His work has been recognized by the Society of the Silurians, Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE), and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

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70,000 call on Zoom to offer free end-to-end encryption - The Daily Dot

The argument is that covid-19 has taught us to stop worrying and love Silicon Valleyto simply embrace the connections it brings to our quarantine and the surveillance it can apply to contact tracing.

But as people find themselves relying on the tech economy in fuller, more intimate ways, they are finding new reasons to be concerned.

An Amazon vice president stepped down in May in support of workers who were fired for organizing for better workplace safety measures against the coronavirus. Low-wage workers from other companies, including Instacart, Target, and Walmart, have gone on strike for similar reasons. Airbnb hosts are disgruntled that the platform they work for and lobby for is giving customers who cancel bookings full refunds, leaving hosts with no income and all the costs.

In moments of crisis, when new technology seems to offer quick and easy answers, it might appear difficult to devise an imaginative response to the large tech firms growing power. But even though the litany of things that tech platforms get away with is quite remarkable, tools for fixing some of techs deepest problems are closer at hand than one might think.

Companies on the internet can collect data about peoples behavior in ways old phone companies and mail carriers never could: a telecom cant listen to your phone conversations and send you relevant robocalls. Ride-sharing apps got their start in part by bypassing regulations their taxicab competitors had to follow. Gig-economy platforms routinely claim the right to ignore hard-won labor protections on the grounds that they offer part-time freelance work, even though in many cases this work involves the kind of control over workers that is tantamount to standard employment.

There has long been a presumption in some quarters that the old rules dont apply to new tech. Earlier this year, before the virus set in, Michael ORielly, a commissioner at the US Federal Communications Commission, spoke at the university where I teach. He expressed his hope that with the days of circuit--switched copper networks behind us, the FCCs role would diminish exponentially, like a puff of smoke on a windy day. But we find ourselves in a moment when the companies the FCC regulates mediate more of our lives than ever before.

Indeed, many of the USs major antitrust laws were created for crises not so unlike the one we face todaytimes of super-powerful magnates and widespread economic upheaval.

These laws, crafted for the railroads and Standard Oil, empower regulators to, among other things, break up any company abusing its market dominance. Regulators have not recently exercised these powers against Big Tech because for decades they have narrowly fixated on consumer prices as the measure of whether a market is being monopolizeda measure that doesnt work for services, like Facebook and Google, that are free. This would change if regulators allowed themselves to see how far--reaching the old antitrust mandate against market manipulation really is. With many smaller businesses now on the brink of collapse, the danger of consolidation has never been greater. A moratorium on mergers is probably a necessary stopgap.

Theres a similar story of amnesia in labor law. The gig-economy platforms have all but admitted that their business depends on systematically violating labor protections. California recently woke up to that fact, passing a law reclassifying many gig workers as employees. Especially now, when people with precarious incomes are risking their health by providing essential services from grocery delivery to elder care, they deserve every protection society can reasonably offer.

Regulations alone, however, are not enough. Policy should enable more than it prevents. In the 1920s and 1930s, US legislators put this principle into practice. Following the 1929 stock market crash, it was clear that banks were not accountable to their clients, and there were huge swaths of the country that banks didnt serve. In addition to new regulations that constrained the banks, the 1934 Federal Credit Union Act turned a few local experiments in community finance into a government-insured system. Member-owned, member--governed credit unions proliferated. They held banks to higher standards and brought financial services to places where there had been none.

In similar fashion, two years later, the Rural Electrification Act helped bring electricity to farm country, where investor--owned utilities hadnt bothered to string lines. Low-interest loans through the Department of Agriculture enabled communities to organize cooperativesnearly 900 of which still operate today. The loan program now earns more than it costs. Like the housing policies of the time that gave us the 30-year mortgage, it was a public policy that enabled widespread private ownership.

These were some of the most powerful economic development programs in US history. They introduced dynamism and decentralization to markets in danger of being held in thrall to monopoly and exploitation. If we want a more inclusive tech economy, the New Deal legacy would be a good place to start.

Internet users need the capacity to form cooperative alternatives to the dominant platforms and infrastructure. For instance, much the same model as that of the cooperative electric companies could be used to bring customer-owned broadband to underserved communities. Some old rural electric co-ops are offering fiber-to-the-home already.

Furthermore, gig workers and customers who rely on them currently have to use investor-owned platforms. But one proposed bill in California, the Cooperative Economy Act, would enable platform workers to organize co-ops that could collectively negotiate with platformsand perhaps even build platforms of their own. This would enable these workers, many of whom are now essential as drivers and delivery people, to obtain better wages and working conditions.

Quarantine and remote work also leave many people more dependent than ever on communication platforms, which typically collect personal data for uncertain purposes. This shouldnt be a necessary trade-off. Using free, open-source tools like NextCloud for file-sharing and Jitsi for videoconferencing, groups can manage their own privacy-protecting systems and decide for themselves how their data is used. Public investment in projects like this could ensure that, as with credit unions, people have the means to organize alternatives when the big platforms arent meeting their needs or respecting their values.

The internet may have near-magical powers that can help us get through the coronavirus crisis, but making technology firms accountable can begin with lessons learned from the last depression. Good tech policy requires recognizing that tech is just another way of wielding power.

See the original post:

What the 1930s can teach us about dealing with Big Tech today - MIT Technology Review

The coronavirus pandemic pushed people to stay in their homes, and in turn, forced them to use video conferencing products. In the past couple of months, Zoom became an almost indispensable app, Facebook had to step up and make a rival product, and Google made its enterprise conferencing product free for everyone.

Amid this video conferencing boom, Zooms security and privacy-relatedproblems made a lot of people skeptical about using its products. Plus, the company wasnt transparent about communicating its mishaps this forced a lot of people to look for free open source products, and Jitsi emerged as a perfect solution for them.

Apart from being open-sourced, Jitsi benefited from endorsements by a few highly-regarded names in the security community. In March, a privacy-focusedbrowser Tor tweeted about the product as an alternative to Zoom.

In 2017, in an interview with WIRED, Edward Snowden talked about using his own Jitsi server. Later, in a security conference, a lot of people saw Snowden using Jitsi to deliver a talk.

The product suddenly exploded during the pandemic. That meant Emil Ivov, Jitsis founder, and the rest of the team had to work even longer hours to keep the ship running.

Ivov originally built Jitsi as a project in 2003, when he was studying at the University of Strasbourg. Later, he spun off the project into an app and kept building it for desktop. In 2009, he started a company called BlueJimp (not to confused with BlueJeans, another video conferencing app) around it.

In 2011, Google open-sourced WebRTC communication standards to facilitate things like video-conferencing over browsers.The team took advantage of that and built abrowser-basedproduct, and so Meet Jitsi was born.

Apart from being open-sourced Jitsis ease of use helped it gain more users. To set up a call, you need to go to its website, and itll generate a meeting link with four words. That makes it difficult for Zoombombers uninvited people who join public video conferences and broadcast pornographic material to guess the link. Plus, you dont need to sign up to set up a meeting.

While the open-sourced version is free-to-usefor everyone. Its parent company, 88 offers a paid version with features such as transcription and meeting history.

In the past few months, the team had to scale up the infrastructure as users started to mount due to lockdowns all over the world.

The company learned that all kinds of people started to use video conferencing products. So they had to make things easier for users and educate them about the product as many of them were used to old-fashioned dial-in calls.

However, the pandemic has popularized the companys product. Ivov claims it pushed the apps growth by 10 years:

The pandemic provided an acceleration of 10 years in terms of growth. The last decade was an indicator of people moving towards remote work. This situation has just put us into the fast track mode.

After the pandemic hit the world, Jitsis open-sourced version and 88s paid version have managed to achieve 20 million unique monthly participants.

The next challenge for the company is to introduce end-to-end encryption for calls. The service already offers end-to-end encryption one-on-one calls and plenty of other security measures.

Ivov told me that hes never heard so many people talk about end-to-end encryption:

Ive never heard so many people talk about security and end-to-end encryption as I have in the past few months. We provide different levels of security for different needs. So primarily, we needed to educate people about the options they have.

He said that end-to-end encryption for a call with multiple people is challenging to develop. Ideally, when someone joins an encrypted call without a valid key, they would only see jumbled up video streams. When they have the legitimate key, the video stream would look normal. You can see that in a demo video below.

Now, this is easy to execute when there are two or three people on the call. When video services such as Jitsi meet use WebRTC, they create a connection with a central server that dishes out a single video stream to all participants.

If a service wants to use encryption, it has to create the same number of encrypted connection to the central server as the number of participants on a call.And the central server has to decrypt every stream, re-encrypt it, and send it to another participant.This works well for two or three-person calls. But puts a lot of load on the server for calls with multiple people.

To solve this problem, Jitsi is going to use Insertable Streams, a new feature released by the Chromium team that lets you add an additional layer of encryption. The idea is to encrypt frames rather than connections.

Ivov says the open-source nature of the app has helped people find bugs and report them and thats why we havent seen a major security scare on the app yet.Plus, this also helps anyone who wants to implement their own set of functions on top of Jitsis app.

For instance, the Italy-based classroom collaboration platform WeSchool has built some features on top of Jitsis open-sourced version. And according to WeSchools CEO, Marco De Rossi, nearly 30% of secondary schools in the country are using that tool. Rocket Chat, a free and open-source enterprise team chat solution also uses Jitsi for video conferencing.

The number of people using video conferencing simultaneously might decrease as countries are opening up, but Ivov believes a lot of people will still prefer this method of communication instead of a meeting packed with people.

He said that conferencing apps will need to try and make peoples lives easier by making meeting itemssuch as slideshows, documents, and transcripts available even after the session ends. However, the challenge for them would be to do all of this without compromising anyones privacy, and Ivov believes its possible.

Read next: Ben Goertzel: I'm just another neuron in the goddamn global brain

Why is queer representation so important? What's it like being trans in tech? How do I participate virtually? You can find all our Pride 2020 coverage here.

Read the rest here:

A look at how Jitsi became a 'secure' open-source alternative to Zoom - The Next Web

So you're sick of Zoom.

Maybe it's the privacy issues, the security issues, or just the whole misrepresenting its encryption thing. Regardless of the specific reason, you know that there has to be a better video-conferencing tool out there, and you're determined to find it. Enter Jitsi Meet.

Much like Zoom, the free and open-source video-chat tool is easy to use and requires little-to-no onboarding. It's also encrypted, and doesn't sell your data. As an added bonus, you don't need an account and you don't need to download anything to start or join a meeting. Oh yeah, and it supports tile view.

Here's what you need to get started.

Starting a call couldn't be easier. To begin, head to the Jitsi call page. Once there, under the "start a new meeting" text, enter your desired meeting name. A quick note here: Make your meeting name unique enough that it will not already be in use (think "FriendsMeetingForBeers482020" instead of "beers"). Then click "Go."

That's it. You've started the call.

However, there is one super important detail you must still do: add a password to the call. This is a straightforward step, and prevents unwanted zoombombers from crashing your call. To add a password right after you've started the call click the "i" icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Add that password.

Image: screenshot / jitsi

Select "add password," and then enter your desired password in the blank field (please do not use "password" as your password). Press enter, and your Jitsi call is now password protected.

Because a video call isn't a video call without other participants, you need to invite them to join you. Jitsi makes this process as easy as sending your friends the meeting URL.

So, in the case of the above example, you would send your friends https://meet.jit.si/FriendsMeetingForBeers482020. You can email, text, or Signal it to them. Also let them know the meeting password.

Then, all your friends have to do is drop that link into their browser of choice (Jitsi recommends Chrome, but in my experience Firefox works just fine), enter the password, and they're good to go.

Protection is sexy.

Image: screenshot / jitsi

As of last month, Jitsi could support up to 75 different callers at the same time. And, unlike Zoom, there is no time limit for calls. So get the entire family on and chat away for hours.

Jitsi offers a host of features that compete directly with paid video-conferencing tools. For starters, you can screen share, record meetings, and switch to tile view.

To switch the call to tile view, once the call has started click the four little boxes in the bottom-right corner. To switch back, click it again.

See it over there? ->

Image: screenshot / jitsi

Jitsi lets you automatically blur your background. This is a neat tool that comes in handy for everything from hiding the fact that you didn't clean your room from your mom to obscuring details of your apartment to strangers.

To enable the blur, select the three vertical dots in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Next, select "blur my background."

Blur baby, blur.

Image: Screenshot / jitsi

To turn this off, hit "disable background blur."

Let's say you want to record a call. Maybe you're preforming an original song for a digital talent show, and you want to be able to look back on it once you've broken free from quarantine to remind yourself that this wasn't a fever dream.

You're in luck! While you need a DropBox account for the next part (you can sign up for a free, "basic" account), Jitsi makes this super easy to pull off. To start a screen recording, once again hit those three vertical dots and then select "start recording." Next, link your Dropbox account to the Jitsi call, and you're good to go.

Sharing a YouTube video with the call is even easier, as there are no accounts of any kind required. After clicking the three dots again, select "share a YouTube video" and then paste the link into the provided field. Click "share" and your fellow callers will see the video right along with you.

We all know that video calls can be awkward, as people tend to speak over each other by mistake. Jitsi offers a fun solution with its "raise / lower your hand" tool.

If you click the hand icon in the bottom-left corner, other call participants will see a tiny hand icon pop up in the upper-left corner of your video. That way, your fellow callers will know that you have something important to say.

Hi! Pick me!

Image: screenshot / jitsi

Perhaps you want share a thought with everyone, but don't want to interrupt to conversation. That's where the chat box comes in. Just to the right of the hand icon, the chat icon opens up a text-based chat box. Chose a name for yourself, type in your message, and hit enter. That's all.

Oh, and because we can't emphasize it enough, please remember to set a password on your call. The fact that you can create your own Jitsi URL is a fun thing that makes meetings easier to share. However, it also makes it easier for randos to guess the URL. A password shuts this down.

Using Jitsi is incredibly easy. Its host of features make it feel like a real competitor to Zoom, and it's free without any call time limits. So the next time your sheltering-in-place friends suggest a video call, send them a Jitsi link. You'll never look back.

WATCH: Zooms newfound popularity is being exploited by hackers during coronavirus pandemic

Read more:

How to use Jitsi Meet, an open source Zoom alternative

With remote working becoming the new normal due to the coronavirus outbreak, video conferencing and virtual collaboration applications have witnessed exponential growth in the last few months.

Zooms rise is well documented by now. The Silicon Valley startup has become the default virtual meeting platform, earning the label of King of the Quarantine Economy from AdWeek. Its users have grown 30x since the COVID-19 outbreak.

But there are newer applications and tools being rolled out each day. There is consolidation happening as well. Also, several pre-existing cloud conferencing platforms are ramping up their offerings to make the most of the current demand.

YourStory drew up a list of some useful virtual meeting apps that go beyond Zoom.

Until recently, Googles premium video conferencing product Meet was available to G-Suite users only. It meant that only paying customers could start meetings, but anyone could join one.

The internet giant has also re-engineered Meet to make it more secure, easy to access, and reliable. So, anyone can log in to the app with their Gmail account or evenuse Meet directly inside Gmail.

Google claims that since Meet became free in March, its users have increased 30x and three billion minutes of video meetings are being conducted daily.

GoToMeeting has been one of the most-searched meeting tools since the lockdown. Searches in India grew 173 percent in April, reveals online search tracker SEMRush.

The app has been built by Boston-based SaaS startup LogMeIn. It launched in 2016, and has racked up more than five million downloads on Google Play Store.

GoToMeeting also offers features like calendar sync across devices, full band VoIP audio or phone call, screen sharing, hand-off presentation controls for other attendees to view, meeting alerts, and live chats with individual attendees or all participants.

Airmeet is a homegrown virtual meeting and online event platform. The Bengaluru-based startup recently raised $3 million in funding to push its offerings in the aftermath of the pandemic that forced widespread event cancellations.

Community managers can publish their event details online, manage registrations, and go live from the event through a single interface, without any additional downloads. Users can organise or join meetings on Airmeet through a browser link.

Jitsi Meet is a free, open source, and fully encrypted video conferencing solution. You can host and join meetings even without an account. It offers unlimited meeting minutes, participants, and conferences. Jitsi Meet can also be added to Slack channels.

It has high quality audio and video along with live chat and screen sharing features. You can install the Jitsi Chrome extension to log in to meetings from a browser too.

Jitsi Meet also provides Google Calendar and Office 365 integrations too, which lets you sync meeting invites, schedules, and reminders across devices.

MeetFox is a web-based video solution with integrated scheduling and payment features. It is tailored for 1:1 online meetings between businesses and clients.

Clients who want to meet with business owners can auto-fill their calendars directly. MeetFox also enables service providers to generate instant invoices and receive quick payments by reducing paperwork.

Businesses can also convert website visitors into new clients by adding a MeetFox booking button or a pop-up to their website, social media or email signature.

Reliances JioMeet is an HD video conferencing tool for mobiles and tablets. The app launched in 2018, but an upgraded version was rolled out in March 2020 to capitalise on the growing demand for e-meeting apps.

Users can answer calls in audio or video mode or toggle between modes. The call host has the option to manage participant audio and video feeds using host controls.

They can also selectively disconnect participants or end the entire meeting. JioMeet also provides conference history, and all the meetings are PIN protected.

Chinese internet giant Tencent is the latest to join the virtual meeting bandwagon. It recently launched VooV Meeting, a cloud-based remote conferencing tool for businesses. Conferencing is free for up to 300 members; charges apply post that.

Attendees can host or join meetings with ease anytime, anywhere. The tool is available across iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS.

Like most remote collaboration tools, VooV Meeting enables real-time screen sharing, instant text messaging, live discussions, HD session recordings, and more.

(Edited by Teja Lele Desai)

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

Read more here:

Google Meet, GoToMeeting, and other Zoom alternatives in video conferencing apps - YourStory

With few warning signs, and in a mind-bending and staggering short space of time, the human species, in a fight for survival, has been jolted into a state of isolation and social distancing.

In this article, we will explore some of the digital marketing trends we are learning from other countries and how we should be communicating to maintain brand presence during this period of business unusual.

This hunger for information (and even misinformation at times) has brought on the sharp emergence of video conferencing apps. Facebook has launched Messenger Rooms. We have seen the meteoric rise of Zoom, although questions are being asked around possible security and privacy concerns. Others emerging in the wake of Zoom include, Skype Meet Now, Cisco Webex, Starleaf, Jitsi Meetand yes, Google Hangouts is still around.

Consumer behaviour has also changed rapidly. We are excessively consuming more digital content, all of the time. From streaming services to social media, digital is the new normal as to how we keep in touch and stay informed.

Craig Mawdsley, joint chief strategy officer at AMV BBDO, shared some wise words in a recent article published for Think with Google -

Could we see the emergence of key opinion leaders (KOL) in the future of travel marketing? These are not influencers the likes of Kardashians or Hollywood stars (who influence only in the digital world) but rather thought leaders in a specific area that people trust (inside and outside the world of digital).

Through this power of influence, we are able to deliver on the three Rs of influence marketing - reach, relevance and resonance. Targeted messages to selected audiences, in a tone that is engaging and memorable, leaving a brand mark for the time when we can all travel again.

Some top travel KOLs include Murad Osmann, who has 4.1 million Instagram followers, and The Bucket List Family with 1.7 million Instagram followers. When it comes to industry executives or thought leaders, travel KOLs include Chip Conley, who founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality, a hotel and restaurant company. - Izea Influencer Marketing

Although tourism is one of the hardest-hit sectors in this time of isolation, online marketing, and maintaining a digital brand presence for future clients, is crucial for the long term survival of any travel-related brand.

As the world is turning to digital platforms to stay informed and connected, so should our marketing efforts be focussed on digital marketing to maintain brand awareness for when we can all travel again. Here are some of our recommendations

Start planning now for recovery. Keep investing in marketing.

For now. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay connected.

Read more here:

The world of digital in uncertain times - Bizcommunity.com

Facebook has announced the availability for all users of Messenger Rooms, its alternative to group video calls from Zoom, Google Meet and others like Jitsi Meet or HouseParty. The particularity of Messenger Rooms is that will allow video calls of up to 50 people, in which you will not need to have the application installed on PCs and smartphones (except in the case of who creates the call).

In addition, as we have already been able to prove, Messenger Rooms does not require callers to have a Facebook account. They will only have to receive an invitation link on the smartphone or computer and enter a name with which to appear on the call.

It is something important, because installing and logging in is usually one of the causes of so many headaches in many services, and here Facebook has made it very simple.

Create a room (translation of room) in Messenger Rooms it is very simple wherever we want to start the video call. We can do it from the Facebook desktop website, in the Messenger application in Windows, macOS, Android and iOS and from the Messenger website. In all this, and when accepting invitations to enter the video call, Keep in mind that Safari is not valid in macOS, and Chrome is not valid in iOS. On desktop, the feature is only supported by Chromium browsers at this time.

To start a room / video call from the Facebook desktop website (old interface) we will have to go to the chat part (bottom right of the window), where we will find a camera symbol with a +, called Create room, as we see in the image.

You may ask us to log in again, because what the browser does is open a session in Messenger. After starting it, we will appear alone in the call. To add participants, we will have to press the second icon, See participants in the video call. From there we can copy the link, and block the room to not add more participants.

Once we have copied the link, The person we send it to and opens it will see an interface like this one in the image below, where they will not be required to have a Facebook account to join. Only his name, which may be fictitious.

It should be mentioned that the image and sound quality is acceptable, although for example it does not cancel noise as well as Zoom nor does it have Meet video quality. Options like screen sharing work very well. From the Messenger desktop application the process is very similar.

Once we create the room (for what a Facebook user is needed), the interface is similar to the one created from the web. To share the link, you need to press the option See participants in the video call. Obtaining the link should be easier and more intuitive, as we will see that it is on the smartphone, since there is a large blue button with great prominence once we start the room.

To start the process from the mobile, the only option we have seen for the moment is from the Messenger app. The Facebook application in principle is also capable of doing this, but the function is only available in the United States.

Unlike what happens on the desktop, on smartphones at the moment we can not share screen, something that would be really useful these days of confinement to help older people to learn about the functions of their smartphone or to solve problems with their equipment.

In general, in the absence of problems of being available to all users in all versions, Messenger Rooms seems like a great alternative to everything we knew. You will not have a host problem when you are on the platforms you are on, and above all, you can see its use very much when integrating with WhatsApp, as is already being seen in the beta version of the latter.

Link:

this is how the Facebook alternative to Zoom and Meet works with video calls of up to 50 people - Explica

In this era of social distancing, many have turned to videoconferencing as a means of staying in touch with friends, family and colleagues. And although it dragged its feet for quite some time, the House of Commons has now gone virtual, as well. But why is Parliament relying on a foreign company thats selling a piece of software with a raft of known security issues, instead of finding a made-in-Canada solution that would allow us to protect our data and save taxpayer money?

On Tuesday, the full House convened for the first time over Zoom, the videoconferencing software that has become a household name during this pandemic, with its user base exploding from 10 million daily users in December, to 300 million today. Zoom, however, has come under increased scrutiny about its substandard security and lax privacy controls.

The company outright lied about using end-to-end encryption. We learned that it has access to decryption keys, meaning it can potentially snoop on conversations. A team from the University of Toronto found that the software was sometimes sending encryption keys through servers located in communist China, even if none of the participants in the call were from that country. And the term Zoombombing has entered the lexicon, with many meetings being spied on or actively disrupted by people spouting racism and displaying Nazi imagery.

A parliamentary spokesperson told CBC that the version of the software being used by the House has added security features and that most parliamentary proceedings are open to the public anyway, so privacy is less of an issue (cabinet meeting are being held using something else entirely).

Fair enough. But given that the FBI has warned teachers not to use Zoom and many companies such as Daimler, Ericsson, SpaceX and Postmedia and governments including Germany, Taiwan and Singapore have banned its use outright, it seems like Parliament should have had some reservations about it.

Much has been made in recent weeks about future-proofing Canada to withstand future crises by producing more supplies here at home. As Ive written previously, this is problematic because protectionism doesnt ensure we have adequate supplies of a given product and its impossible to predict exactly what we will need to meet the next emergency.

When it comes to software, however, its a different matter entirely, because there is a huge variety of free and open source software packages available that are already powering much of the worlds critical infrastructure and can easily be adapted to Canadas needs.

For the uninitiated, open source refers to software that is developed in the open and given away for free. It is often written by teams that can include many people, from unpaid volunteers, to employees of some of the worlds largest tech firms. Even if youve never heard of open source, chances are that you are running it, or using technology that is based on it.

A majority of websites run on open source. The open source Linux operating system is the basis for Googles Android and Chrome OS systems, and powers a plethora of Internet of Things devices, from routers, to smart TVs, to home automation systems.

Another videoconferencing platform thats seen a sharp increase in popularity is Jitsi. While its run by a company called 88, which offers free and paid plans, its also open source, meaning anyone can run a Jitsi server and anyone with enough knowledge can audit its source code to figure out exactly how it works and whether there are any potential security vulnerabilities.

The advantage of the government selecting open systems, like Jitsi, instead of proprietary ones, like Zoom, is that it would allow government to run all its systems in-house, instead of relying on foreign companies to transmit and store data.

It would also give government the ability to conduct security audits of its systems, which is much easier to do when you can see the code that a software package was built with, rather than trying to figure out how a black box works without being able to open it up.

And while there would be an initial cost to purchasing the necessary hardware and ensuring the government has the proper expertise to implement and maintain it, there would be significant savings for taxpayers in the long run, as the government would be able to stop paying for costly software licenses.

Jitsi is already being used by companies like WeSchool, an Italian firm that runs online classroom software that is being used by 500,000 educators and students during this crisis. And in February, the South Korean government began switching its desktops from Windows 7 to Linux, which it expects will save it significant sums of money in the future.

Security researchers have warned the government that Zoom is a privacy disaster waiting to happen. In order to protect our critical information technology infrastructure, especially that which is tasked with running our democratic institutions, from foreign interference and espionage, we need to seriously look at running these systems in Canada, with software we can trust.

Finding open source solutions is the best way to go about doing that.

National Postjkline@nationalpost.comTwitter.com/accessd

See more here:

Jesse Kline on COVID-19: Keeping government secure and saving taxpayer money with open source - National Post

Skypeis synonymous with video calls. Ever since it was bought over by software giant Microsoft, there has been a growing clamor for Skype alternatives - and it seems that this call has been heard and answered many times over. Check out different, exciting video telephony apps for the home, office, and on-the-go here. Read on to find out what their respective pros and cons are.

The freemium Discord app places a strong emphasis on community focus. Unlike a conventional instant messenger, everything in Discord revolves around groups that have been sorted out and separated based on its respective servers. Within the service or app, you are able to switchfrom one server to another. Numerous functions, including the video chat function, are free, and this makes Discord a decent Skype alternative for groups.

While it is less well-known commercially, Tox plays its role well. So far, only 1:1 video calls are possible. Thanks to an open-source approach, there are several compatible clients for Android, iOS, and desktop operating systems. Some clients allow group chats (partly based on IRC).

The decentralized system works peer-to-peer, i.e. without a server and thus without mass data storage. Messages are encrypted end-to-end.

Signal's set up would be extremely familiar to WhatsApp users due to the similarities, which makes the switch particularly painless. All you need to do is download the app, register your phone number, protect chats using a PIN, and import your address book. Metadata, messages, and video chats are encrypted and not stored on the server - making this a simple and secure Skype alternative!

The paid WhatsApp alternative, Threema, is currently testing outvideo calls as a beta feature.

Google had long announced that it was going to stop its Messenger service. However, as long as it still works, we will list Hangouts as an alternative to Skype. This is especially so on Android smartphones, making it an obvious video chat solution as you already have a Google account. Such a degree of integration enables youto reach many of your contacts quickly. The Hangouts group video calls' quality has been consistently impressive.

German app Wire is marketed as a collaborative platform.As such, you can use it to host a video conference with friends or colleagues, simply chat, or view each other's screensand send files. After 30 days, however, certain features will be restricted.

Jami is a Swiss army knife when it comes to communication. Other than Web-based video calls, this free open source app also delivers SIP-based calls to the telephone network. This makes it a feature-packed alternative to the commercially-minded Skype.

In Jami, you can register as an anonymous user. It is optional to include alink to your email address or phone number, a move that ensures a high degree of privacy.

The free, open-source, and decentralized Zoom and Skype alternative Jitsi provides the highest degree of control. Other than public servers, you are also able to set it up on a private one. This can be configured quickly and in an affordable manner with a Raspberry Pi working alongside a basic Internet connection as actual video communication is done on a peer-to-peer basis.

Usage is completely anonymous; as you will never be asked for personal data.

Zoom is surprisingly user-friendly. The video service can be scaledfor meetings with up to several hundred participants. However, you must first register with a valid e-mail address. It is important to use a different password each time for your meetings, because Zoom has been criticized for data leaks, among other things - which has since been patched.

Using it is simple: create a video chat room, share an invitation link, wait for the participants, and begin talking. The free version limits video calls to 40-minute sessions, although you can restart them immediately and as often as you like.

Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp can perform video calls. In fact,WhatsApp recently raised the limit of its video chatting to eight concurrent participants. Due to dubious privacy terms, Facebook products are only suitable for professional use to a limited extent. Private users will benefit the most because they can meet almost all their contacts via one of the popular apps.

What is your favorite video call tool? What do you use to replace or complement Skype? What other discoverieswould you like to share with us that you think we might have missed? What do you consider to be the most important feature to consider when it comes to video calls? Share your experiences and suggestions in the comments section.

More here:

The best Skype alternatives for video calls on your smartphone - AndroidPIT