Zoom is a videoconferencing software program developed by Zoom Video Communications. It provides a video chatting service that allows up to 100 devices at once for free, with a 40-minute time restriction for free accounts having meetings of three or more participants. Users have the option to upgrade by subscribing to one of its plans, with the highest allowing up to 1,000 people concurrently, with no time restriction.[3]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom has seen a major increase in usage for remote work, distance education,[4] and online social relations.
History
A beta version of Zoom was launched in September 2012 that could host conferences with up to 15 video participants.[6] In January 2013, version 1.0 of the program was released with an increase in the number of participants per conference to 25.[7] By the end of its first month, Zoom had 400,000 users, which rose to 1 million by May 2013.[8] After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, by February 2020, Zoom had gained 2.22 million users in 2020 — more users than it amassed in the entirety of 2019.[9] On one day in March 2020, the Zoom app was downloaded 2.13 million times.[10][11] In April 2020, Zoom had more than 300 million daily meeting participants.[12]
Features
Zoom is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS and Linux. It is noted for its simple interface and usability, specifically for non-tech people.[13][14] Features include one-on-one meetings, group video conferences, screen sharing, plugins, browser extensions, and the ability to record meetings and have them automatically transcribed.[15] On some computers and operating systems, users are able to select a virtual background, which can be downloaded from different sites, to use as a backdrop behind themselves.[16]
Use of the platform is free for video conferences of up to 100 participants at once, with a 40-minute time limit if there are more than two participants. For longer or larger conferences with more features, paid subscriptions are available, costing $15–20 per month. Features geared towards business conferences, such as Zoom Rooms, are available for $50–100 per month.[17][13][16] Up to 49 people can be seen on a screen at once.[18] Zoom has several tiers: Basic, Pro, Business, and Enterprise.[19] Participants do not have to download the app if they are using Google Chrome or Firefox; they can click on a link and join from the browser. Zoom is not compatible with Safari for Macs.[16]
Zoom security features include password protected meetings, user authentication, waiting rooms, locked meetings, disabling participant screen sharing, randomly generated IDs, and the ability for the host to remove disruptive attendees.[20] As of June 2020, Zoom will soon begin offering end-to-end encryption to business and enterprise users, with AES 256 GCM encryption enabled for all users.[21]
Zoom also offer a transcription service using Otter.ai software that allows businesses to store transcriptions of the Zoom meetings online and search them, including separating and labeling different speakers.[22]
As of July 2020, Zoom Rooms and Zoom Phone are also available as hardware as a service products.[23] Zoom for Home, a category of products designed for home use, is expected to be available in August 2020.[24]
