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August 27, 2012

ooVoo – Host a Video Chat With Friends


Telephone calls and texts are so 2010. Young people looking to catch up with friends today are increasingly going online, using instant messaging applications and video conferencing tools to host group meetings in a face-to-face setting. ooVoo is a video conferencing tool that people can use to chat with a dozen friends for free.

Although ooVoo is primarily known as a video chatting platform, the application also facilitates phone calls, instant messaging, and file sharing. Download ooVoo and follow the setup wizard to begin. In addition to using the platform on your desktop, you can also use the mobile app on any iPhone or Android device, or embed an ooVoo video chat room in your website or blog. When you’ve gotten set up, you can invite up to 11 friends to join you in an ooVoo room and participate in a group video chat for free. These chats can be easily recorded and shared, either through networking sites like YouTube or via email. To meet new people, add an ooVoo “Call Me” button to your blog, or search for people you know who already use ooVoo’s social networking service.

Groups of business associates will find even more ways to use ooVoo. The platform offers a number of professional tools, the most useful of which is the screen sharing tool. Colleagues who utilize screen sharing can share their documents, files, or photos with each other by splitting the screen while they’re on a group chat. Business associates who don’t have access to a webcam can also participate in group discussions by calling in through a landline telephone. ooVoo lets users add up to six telephone lines to a video call.

Practical Uses:

  • Chat with a dozen friends face-to-face
  • See your client’s reaction when you discuss changes to his project
  • Hold a weekly conference meeting online
  • Make friends with other people who use ooVoo for social networking

Insider Tips:

  • Users can send files up to 25 MB each
  • Up to six phone lines can be added to a video call
  • The instant messaging platform lets users message up to 11 friends at once
  • Video chats can be recorded as AVI, FLV, or HTML

What we liked:

  • People on different platforms can communicate seamlessly with ooVoo
  • Screen sharing is a great feature for people who have to give video presentations
  • Bloggers can add “Call Me” buttons to their websites
  • People who log in through Facebook can see when their friends are on ooVoo

What we didn’t like:

  • Screen sharing is only available for users with premium plans

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: June 2007
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: New York, New York
  • Founded by: Clayton Mathile and Philippe Schwartz
  • Web site: http://www.oovoo.com

Costs:

  • Free plan
  • Premium plan $2.99 per month

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