\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat was primarily a social app for casual conversations, tested the corporate waters in 2015 by allowing business interactions between customers and companies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2020, to compete with Zoom\u2019s massive popularity, Facebook introduced Messenger Rooms. You could create rooms, public, exclusive or\u00a0on link-based entry. While in Messenger video calls, you could view one main speaker and 6 participants at a time on screen. The new video calling app allows better viewing for larger parties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n2016: WhatsApp\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Undeniably one of the most popular messaging and VoIP calling apps in the world, Whatsapp started way back in 2009 when the founders realised the potential for the App market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIt didn\u2019t take too long for the app to gain favour as it continued to tweak its features on the go. By 2011, Whatsapp was part of the top 20 apps on Apple\u2019s American App Store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhen Facebook Inc. acquired Whatsapp in 2014, the world was left agog at the mammoth purchase (on the lines of $19 billion). And just a year later, the company entered the voice call market, and <\/span>by 2016, video calling was incorporated as well.<\/span><\/p>\nBy now, the app was already being widely used for all kinds of calls, but 2018 proved to be a big year. Apart from creating a Whatsapp platform for businesses, they also introduced group voice and video calls for up to 8 people at a time, making conferencing feasible and super convenient.<\/span><\/p>\nIn the latest news, it is expected that <\/span>voice and video calls will be added to the desktop version, Whatsapp Web<\/span>, in addition to the mobile app. This version is apparently in its beta testing stage, which means it won\u2019t be long till it\u2019s officially released, and you\u2019ll be able to make Whatsapp calls directly from your computer!<\/span><\/p>\n2016: Google Duo and Google Meet<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Google<\/span>, <\/span>CC BY-SA 4.0<\/span>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/p>\nGoogle launched its video calling app in 2016\u2014Google Duo- to replace Hangouts. With HD video calling even in low bandwidth, end-to-end encryption and high brand accessibility, it proved to be quite a successful venture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn the year 2020, Google Meet was launched as a more robust and enterprise-focused solution while maintaining Google Duo for consumer-oriented video calling. Coincidently, it aligned with the growing demand for remote collaboration tools during the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced a boom in its demand among businesses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n2017: Microsoft Teams – <\/span><\/b>Video Conferencing Meets Collaboration<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Since its launch in 2017, Microsoft Teams has undergone a remarkable evolution, becoming a\u00a0daily element\u00a0in the\u00a0modern workplace. It was initially introduced as a chat-centric platform, included in the Office 365 application bundle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\nWith the addition of features like audio calls and screen sharing, Teams expanded its capabilities, catering to diverse collaboration needs. Microsoft\u00a0solidified\u00a0Teams’ infrastructure to meet regulatory requirements and ensure user data protection. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe platform’s adaptability shone during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the introduction of remote-friendly features like virtual backgrounds and breakout rooms. With the ongoing updates and improvements, Microsoft Teams continues to redefine workplace collaboration. It offers a dynamic and versatile video conferencing platform for teams worldwide.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTop 10 Video Conferencing Software Providers<\/strong><\/h2>\nDrawing from the platforms that shaped this timeline, here are ten of the most influential video conferencing and video calling providers, along with what each is best known for:<\/p>\n
\nZoom \u2014 <\/strong>Launched in 2011, Zoom became synonymous with online meetings and remote work, scaling from 15 participants in beta to large-scale video conferencing, and proving especially vital during the 2020 pandemic for work meetings and online education.<\/li>\nMicrosoft Teams \u2014 <\/strong>Introduced in 2017 as a chat-centric platform within the Office 365 bundle, Teams grew to include audio calls, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms, redefining workplace collaboration for teams worldwide.<\/li>\nCisco Webex \u2014 <\/strong>Launched in 1996 as Webex Meeting Center, it pioneered online meetings, was acquired by Cisco in 2007, and evolved with HD video conferencing, mobile compatibility, Webex Personal Room, and Webex Assistant.<\/li>\nGoogle Meet (and Google Duo) \u2014 <\/strong>Google Duo arrived in 2016 with HD video calling in low bandwidth and end-to-end encryption; Google Meet followed in 2020 as an enterprise-focused solution aligned with the remote collaboration boom.<\/li>\nApple FaceTime \u2014 <\/strong>Announced by Steve Jobs in 2010, FaceTime brought high-definition videotelephony to Apple users, later supporting group video calling with up to 32 people and deep integration with iMessage across iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac.<\/li>\nSkype \u2014 <\/strong>Founded in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011, Skype popularized VoIP and video calling worldwide with its user-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and cross-platform compatibility across devices from smartphones to Xbox consoles.<\/li>\nWhatsApp \u2014 <\/strong>One of the world’s most popular messaging and VoIP calling apps, WhatsApp added video calling in 2016 and group video calls for up to 8 people in 2018, alongside its business platform.<\/li>\nFacebook Messenger \u2014 <\/strong>Offering video calling from 2015 and group calls for up to 50 participants, Messenger added live filters, emojis, and Messenger Rooms in 2020 to compete with Zoom.<\/li>\nYahoo! Messenger \u2014 <\/strong>Renamed from Yahoo! Pager in 1999, it was an early pioneer of webcam video calls, VoIP, chat rooms, and file transfer, connecting people over slow internet cables in the early 2000s.10.<\/li>\nAT&T Picturephone \u2014 <\/strong>The original commercial pioneer; its 1970 Mod II model was the first to let people make video calls from their homes and offices rather than special booths, laying the groundwork for everything that followed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\r\n \r\n
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Ready to bring voice, video, WhatsApp and AI into one compliant platform for your business communication?<\/div>\r\n \r\n
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\r\n Book A Demo<\/span>\r\n \r\n Conclusion: Why Video Conferencing Became a Way of Life<\/h2>\n What started as a revolutionary vision, unsupported by the science of the time, has today become commonplace and rather a way of life.<\/p>\n
Videotelephony and video conferencing have gained so much traction because of one primary reason: the fast-paced lives we lead today.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the ability to come face-to-face with people allows more balanced and clear communications. We can now talk with our expressions and body language effectively.<\/p>\n
What do you think of the journey of video conferencing? How has your experience been with these famous video calling apps, share your thoughts with us in the comments down below!<\/p>\n
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n\r\n <\/p>\n
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\r\n \r\n When did video conferencing begin?\r\n <\/button>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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The birth of video conferencing can be traced back to the late 1800s, when Bell\u2019s invention, the telephone, revolutionized communication. In 1876, the concept of videotelephony was already being discussed.<\/p>\n
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\r\n \r\n What was the first videophone people could use from home?\r\n <\/button>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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AT&T\u2019s second picturephone model, Mod II, was inaugurated in June of 1970. This was the first time that people did not need to visit special booths to make calls but could ask for a connection right from their homes and offices.<\/p>\n
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\r\n \r\n Which platform pioneered online meetings?\r\n <\/button>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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Launched in 1996 by Subrah Iyar and Min Zhu, Webex Meeting Center pioneered the concept of online meetings. It allowed users to collaborate and communicate in real-time over the internet.<\/p>\n
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\r\n \r\n When did Zoom become popular in video conferencing?\r\n <\/button>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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Launched in 2011, Zoom reported 1 million users by 2013. Its ability to host large meetings proved especially useful during the global pandemic in 2020 as people realised the importance of video conferencing for work meetings.<\/p>\n
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\r\n \r\n When did WhatsApp add video calling?\r\n <\/button>\r\n <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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WhatsApp entered the voice call market in 2015, and by 2016 video calling was incorporated as well. In 2018 it introduced group voice and video calls for up to 8 people at a time.<\/p>\n
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\r\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let’s start off by admitting that many of us have been pulled into late-night meetings while working from home. Thanks to COVID-19, late-night meetings and sudden calls became a part of our routine. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and even WhatsApp are some of the platforms that allow such meetings to take place. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":19684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[183],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3468","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interaction-hub"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3468"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27058,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468\/revisions\/27058"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Mod](\"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Mod-II-225x300.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n![\"Webex](\"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/5e8cde9f664eae0004085459-300x220-1.png\" "\\"Webex\\"")
<\/h2>\n![\"Yahoo](\"https:\/\/www.acefone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/yahoo-150x75.png\")
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