As India banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Reliance Industries’ chairman Mukesh Ambani has launched a free video-conferencing application called “JioMeet” which will possibly counter Zoom and Skype in India.
Ever since India banned 59 Chinese applications, JioMeet has been downloaded more than 1,00,000 times on Google Play Store within no time. This app has a 24-hour limit on group meetings, absolutely free. It includes other features too such as easy sign up with either mobile number or email ID, meeting in HD audio and video quality.
JioMeet is completely free as compared to Zoom which charges $15 per month for 40 minute meeting time, whereas JioMeet provides 24 hour limit with HD audio and video quality. It will save $180 (Rs 13,500) you spend on Zoom for a year.
The decision of banning Chinese apps was taken in the wake of India-China border standoff. The government banned the apps in order to protect the sovereignty of Indian Cyberspace and to ensure the interests of crores of Indian mobile users. Indian companies have welcomed the government’s move banning Chinese apps.
“Conduct meetings with your customers, partners and people outside your office. Join from laptop/desktop or mobile device or even your legacy video device as it supports the legacy conferencing devices,” according to Jio Platforms.
Zoom in a statement on JioMeet said, “Zoom has experienced intense competition since it was established in 2011 and yet we have become the platform of choice for millions of participants around the world. We know what it takes to become the unified communications platform we are today, including the immense amount of work and focus required to create our frictionless user experience, sophisticated security, and scalable architecture.”
This app comes with zero restriction on time limit and will probably give a tough competition to Zoom. “All your meetings are encrypted and password protected, ensuring complete privacy and data protection,” said the JioMeet team.
“The current market dynamics will potentially provide enough tailwinds to JioMeet to gain currency, on the back of its features, such as no limits on call durations, and seamless switching between devices,” Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CyberMedia Research (CMR), told IANS.
You can create an instant meeting to chat with friends through JioMeet and also you can schedule a meeting in advance and can share meeting details with invitees. It offers unlimited meetings per day and each meeting can go uninterrupted up to 24 hours.
The application can be used on Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, SIP/H.323 systems. Each meeting is password protected and the host can enable a “Waiting Room” to ensure no participant joins without permission.
“Security and privacy have got more prominence and scrutiny in recent times, and any vendor which is able to offer enterprise-grade security will curry favour,” said Ram.
JioMeet comes at a time when the government is insisting on promoting indigenous products to make the country self-reliant. This initiative will also support PM Modi’s message of being ‘Vocal For Local’. PM Modi urged the countrymen to promote swadeshi products and motivate others too in buying local products.
