Zoom is a call and video conference platform that has seen its use explode with containment. An app that competes with Skype and Microsoft Teams in particular, and which has managed to establish itself in the space of a few days as one of the phenomena of 2020.
200 million active users
On Sunday March 15, 600,000 people downloaded the app worldwide, according to the New York Times . Today it totals more than 200 million active users per day, even though it still totaled only 10 million in December. By way of comparison, Skype would total around 40 million active users during this confinement period. Just before containment, Microsoft's software saw its numbers stagnate at 23 million daily active users.
Zoom is one of the companies that has benefited the most from the coronavirus crisis. The company is reaching $ 188 million in sales today. An increase of 78% in one year. Eric S. Yuan, the founder of Zoom, wants to give his clients "the means to do more". "This was demonstrated by our solid performance in the fourth quarter, as we generated a unique combination of 78% total revenue growth on a scale of $ 188 million," he said.
A success linked to ergonomics and free access
Normally, the application offers 40 free minutes of video calling, with up to 100 participants. The following minutes must be purchased. But faced with the health crisis, Zoom teams decided to offer unlimited access to schools in several countries.
Zoom has also managed to convince users with its ergonomics. A simplified application as much as possible. A quick download. Invitations are made by link, even for users who are not registered. An advantage over its competitors: a user can invite up to a hundred people per call. Without any of the participants having to register on Zoom.
The process to obtain a call link takes approximately four minutes.
Skype has already offered additional functionality for a long time - but this has hardly ever been highlighted by the platform. Microsoft software makes it possible to launch a video call with a contact without having to register or download their software. The feature in question is called Meet Now.
A controversy concerning personal data
Paradoxically, the young startup found itself at the heart of a violent controversy in recent days. The Zoom application has been singled out for the protection of personal data.
Consumer Reports, a consumer advocacy organization, warned users. "Zoom collects personal information about its users and does not provide many details on how it is used for advertising purposes," the report said. Including data sent to Facebook.
The growing application reacted quickly. In a press release, the teams of the platform declare that "Zoom takes the confidentiality of its users very seriously". Zoom explains that the functionality was installed to provide users with "another convenient way to access our platform".
But this functionality gave access to some data. "The information collected by the Facebook SDK did not include meeting-related information and activities such as participants, names, notes, etc., but rather included information about devices such as type and version mobile OS, device time zone, device OS, device model and media, screen size, processor cores, and disk space, ”said Zoom.
An update has been made. The teams state that they have removed the functionality in question. They have also "reconfigured the functionality so that users can always connect with Facebook via their browser".
One thing seems certain today: there will also be a before and after confinement for teleworking and Zoom could play a major role in this new configuration.
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- Coronavirus
- Personal data
- Containment
- High-Tech
- Communication
- Application
- Skype