Choosing a video calling application requires consumers to prioritize from among available feature sets. We discuss here the latest developments being tested and implemented to help you correctly assess which offering best addresses your requirements.
1. Livestreaming
In the latest update to its messaging app, Line has added a live streaming feature, called Chat Live, which can be used in group or multi-person chats of up to 200 people.
According to the company, the feature can be used in several ways, such as chatting with friends while live streaming a concert or chatting with grandparents while showing them their grandchildren. Line, which reported a total 169 million monthly active users, has long offered video and group calling features – adding group video calls back in December 2016, for instance.
But it has decided to continue building around its communication capabilities, especially around video. Its live streaming feature is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to provide their users with an “increasingly rich communications experience”.
2. Picture-in-Picture Video Calling
After the beta testing of the picture-picture (PIP) video call in July this year, WhatsApp has now rolled out the feature to everyone. This feature allows users to resize the video calling window and move it around should they want to also text a friend or do something else.
Should a user need to access certain information from other apps while communicating with someone, they can just simply tap the back button shown in the app to switch to PIP mode.
The picture-in-picture video calls update will only be available for Android users whose smartphones have been updated to Android 8.0 Oreo, Google’s latest and greatest milestone software update. For iOS users, the feature works well on iOS 10 or later.
3. 3D Video Calls
In 2013, to mark their 10th anniversary, Skype has confirmed that they were working to make a 3D video call a reality. But corporate vice-president for Skype Mark Gillett warned that it could be many years before the tech launched.
“But the capture devices are not yet there. As we work with that kind of technology you have to add multiple cameras to your computer, precisely calibrate them and point them at the right angle.” Gillet said.
However, it’s been 4 years since this announcement, and several advancements in relevant capture devices have been rolled out, such as augmented reality (AR). In fact, Apple has already released a tool called ARKit that lets app makers draw in detailed camera and sensor data to map digital objects into 3D space. Smartphone manufacturer Asus also have Asus ZenFone AR which allows the user to scan everyday objects and render them into digital 3D objects.
With these developments, the Skype feature launch may be imminent and will surely revolutionize the way people communicate with each other.
For businesses, choosing a communication platform does not only require thorough scrutiny of the latest features and functionality of the platform but also ensuring that it is built with security in mind. Check out the features of our Secure Enterprise Messaging to learn more.
