ooVoo
ooVoo was a video chat and a messaging app developed by ooVoo LLC and owned by Krush Technologies, LLC. ooVoo had applications for Android, iOS, Mac OS X,[1] Microsoft Windows, Windows Phone, and Facebook. The original Microsoft Windows app was released in 2007. It was discontinued on November 25, 2017.[2]
Developer(s) | Krush Technologies, LLC |
---|---|
Initial release | 2007 25, 2017 | Discontinued; November
Stable release | 3.X
/ February 2017 |
Operating system | iOS Android Mac OS X Microsoft Windows Windows Phone |
Type | Instant messaging, Videotelephony, Videoconferencing, Voice over IP |
License | Proprietary |
Website | www |
Features
ooVoo allowed users to communicate through free messaging, voice, and video chat. ooVoo video conferencing technology enabled high-quality video and audio calls with up to twelve participants simultaneously, HD video and desktop sharing.
History
ooVoo was founded in 2006 by Philippe Schwartz and Ohio entrepreneur Clay Mathile[3] based on technology developed at Arel Communications and Software (Formerly NASDAQ:ARLCF). Arel was founded in 1982 and specialized in remote e-learning and collaboration solutions.[4] On March 13, 2006, Arel Communications was taken private by its current owners and relaunched as ooVoo.[5][6]
In June 2007, ooVoo for Microsoft Windows launched, allowing high-quality video chat from anywhere in the world.[7] In February 2008, video call recording and phone calling were introduced.[8] In May 2008, ooVoo for Apple's OS X launched, creating cross-platform capabilities for video chat.[9] In February 2009, ooVoo 2.0 launched and featured browser-based video chat rooms and video chat through a web link with no download required. An open API was also launched with version 2.0, and allowed developers to build customized applications and widgets.[10] In May 2009, ooVoo introduced the first air-to-ground three-way video conversation. ooVoo version 2.2 was launched in July 2009, and introduced business plans geared for multiple seats and desktop sharing. New pay-as-you-go options and international phone calling were also introduced.[11]
In January 2010, ooVoo released its app for Android mobile devices.[12]
On 2 June 2011, ooVoo launched its social video chat service on Apple's iPhone (and other iOS devices), making its free HD Video chat service cross platforms, including: PC, Mac, Android and iPhone.[13][14]
On July 22, 2013, ooVoo released a Software Development Kit (SDK), allowing other applications to leverage its video chat technology (current apps leveraging the ooVoo SDK: Flinch, Heystax).[15]
On June 10, 2014, ooVoo released its app for Windows Phone devices.[16]
On September 9, 2014, ooVoo released its Video SDK for WebRTC.[17]
On November 25, 2017, ooVoo announced via Twitter that it will be shutting down,[2] citing a lack of profit.[18]
Accolades
- ooVoo won PC Magazine's Software Innovation "Best in Show" Award at the DigitalLife Expo in September 2007.[19]
- In March 2008, ooVoo won the "Webware 100" award for Communication.[20][21]
- ooVoo won PC Magazine's Best Mobile Product of 2011 in the Android Category[22]
- ooVoo won the Tabby Award in the Social category for its Android app in August 2013.[23]
- ooVoo was a nominee and finalist for a Mobby Award in the Business Collaboration category for its Android app in September 2015.[24]
- ooVoo was honored in 2016 with a Mobile Excellence Award for Best Social Community.
- 2016 CES Innovation Award Honoree.
References
- Muchmore, Michael (July 30, 2008). "OoVoo Goes High-Res, Adds Web Client". pcmag.com. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- "ooVoo will be shutting down soon, thank you all for an amazing ride read more". twitter.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
- "Industry Moves: ooVoo; Sharethrough; Adchemy; Yahoo". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- "Arel Communications & Software Ltd. - Company Profile". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010.
- "Arel Communications Announces Completion of Going-Private Transaction". BusinessWire. March 13, 2006.
- "ooVoo Communications, Ltd - Company Profile". Hoover's.
- Josh, Glodman (June 11, 2007). "Do you ooVoo?". TechCrunch.
- James, Lewin (Feb 6, 2008). "ooVoo Introduces Real-Time Video Conversation Recording". Podcasting News.
- "ooVoo for Mac". CNET. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- McEvoy, Aoife M. (February 26, 2009). "ooVoo 2.0 VoIP Service - Review". PCworld.com/. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- "ooVoo Launches the First 4G Mobile Video Chat Service That Simultaneously Connects Smartphone, PC and Mac Users". Mobile World. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- Bokovza, Aurli. "ooVoo Exands Its Multi-Person, Cross-Platform Video Chat Service To More Than 200 Android Devices". www.oovoo.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- Zimmerman, William (June 2, 2011). "ooVoo Launches its Social Video Chat Service on the iPhone Platform; Now In the Top 10 Free Apps on iTunes". Telepresence Options. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- "ooVoo Launches Its Social Video Chat Service On The iPhone PLATFORM". www.oovoo.com. Bryan Brown. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "ooVoo Opens the World of Social Video Chat to Developers with Release of Software Development Kit". www.oovoo.com. Laura Zanzal. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "ooVoo Releases ooVoo for Windows Phone Store". www.oovoo.com. Kayla Maas. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "ooVoo Releases Video SDK for WebRTC". www.oovoo.com. Kayla Maas. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "ooVoo is shutting down". Archived from the original on 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
- "ooVoo Wins PC Magazine's Software Innovation Best in Show Award at". PRNewswire. Oct 4, 2007.
- "Webware 100 winner: OoVoo". CNET. April 21, 2008.
- "Is ooVoo going to release a version for my PS4 (Sony Playstation 4)?". support.oovoo.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- "The Best Products of 2011". PCMag. 14 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- Robert Nay, Josh (27 August 2013). "ooVoo Wins Spotlight With Tabby Award for the Android Version of Its Social Application". www.trutower.com. TruTower. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "2015 Tabby and Mobby Awards /Business Nominees | The Tabby Awards /Business". tabbyawards.com. Retrieved 2015-11-05.