ooVoo

ooVoo was a video chat and instant messaging brand developed by ooVoo LLC and owned by Krush Technologies, LLC. It emerged in 2006 from technology associated with Arel Communications and Software, a company founded in 1982 that specialized in remote learning and collaboration software. The service was designed to extend that collaboration heritage into consumer and business communications, combining text messaging, voice calls, video calls, video conferencing, and desktop sharing. The first Microsoft Windows version was released in 2007. During its active period, ooVoo expanded from a desktop video-chat client into a broader communications platform. Its feature set included high-definition video and audio, support for group calls involving up to twelve participants, call recording, telephone calling, and screen or desktop sharing. The service also pursued cross-platform availability, releasing software for Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Facebook. This positioning placed ooVoo among the early consumer services attempting to make video communication work consistently across computers, mobile devices, and social platforms. Product development proceeded through a series of platform and service expansions. Video calling was introduced with the Windows launch in 2007, followed by call recording and phone calling in 2008. A Mac OS X release in May 2008 enabled communication between Windows and Mac users. In 2009, version 2.0 added browser-based video chat rooms and link-based participation without requiring a software download. That release also included an open application programming interface intended to let developers build customized applications and widgets around ooVoo's communications capabilities. Later in 2009, the company introduced business plans for multiple seats, desktop sharing, pay-as-you-go options, and international calling. Mobile became increasingly important to the brand. ooVoo launched an Android application in January 2010 and introduced its iPhone and wider iOS service in June 2011, promoting free high-definition video chat across PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone. It subsequently released a software development kit in 2013, a Windows Phone application in 2014, and a WebRTC-oriented video SDK in the same year. These moves reflected an effort to make ooVoo's technology available not only through its own applications but also through third-party products and browser-based experiences. The brand received industry recognition during its operating life, including a PC Magazine Software Innovation award in 2007, a Webware 100 communication award in 2008, a PC Magazine mobile-product award for Android in 2011, and later honors or nominations connected with its Android application and social-communication capabilities. Despite this visibility and a substantial multi-platform feature set, ooVoo did not achieve sustainable profitability. On November 25, 2017, the company announced through Twitter that the service would be shut down, citing insufficient profit. The applications and service were discontinued the same day. ooVoo is therefore best understood as a defunct early video-communications brand whose development anticipated later expectations around group video, browser access, mobile interoperability, and developer APIs.

ooVoo originated in 2006 through the work of Philippe Schwartz and Ohio entrepreneur Clay Mathile, using technology developed at Arel Communications and Software. Arel had been established in 1982 with a focus on remote e-learning collaboration software. On March 13, 2006, Arel was taken private by its owners and relaunched in connection with ooVoo, creating the corporate and technical foundation for the new communications service. The first ooVoo Windows application appeared in 2007 and centered on video chat. In September of that year, the product received PC Magazine's Software Innovation Best in Show award at the DigitalLife Expo. The service broadened its capabilities in February 2008 with video-call recording and telephone calling. A Mac OS X release followed in May 2008, allowing Windows and Mac users to communicate across operating systems. ooVoo also received a Webware 100 communication award in March 2008. Version 2.0, released in February 2009, marked a shift from a conventional installed client toward a more flexible online communications platform. It introduced browser-based video chat rooms and participation through a web link without a required download. The release also offered an open API for developers building applications and widgets. In May 2009, ooVoo demonstrated an air-to-ground three-way video conversation. Version 2.2 followed in July 2009 with business plans for multiple seats, desktop sharing, pay-as-you-go service options, and international phone calling. The company then concentrated on mobile and social distribution. An Android application launched in January 2010. On June 2, 2011, ooVoo brought its social video-chat service to the iPhone and other iOS devices, promoting high-definition calling across PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone. The Android product later received PC Magazine's 2011 Best Mobile Product recognition in the Android category. ooVoo continued to expose its technology to outside developers. On July 22, 2013, it released a software development kit that allowed other applications to use its video-chat technology. Its Android application won a Tabby Award in the Social category in August 2013. The company released a Windows Phone application on June 10, 2014, followed by a video SDK for WebRTC on September 9, 2014. Further recognition included a 2015 Mobby Award nomination and finalist placement in Business Collaboration, a 2016 Mobile Excellence Award for Best Social Community, and a CES Innovation Award Honoree designation in 2016. Although ooVoo maintained a broad product footprint across desktop, mobile, browser, social, and developer channels, it ultimately failed to achieve profitability. On November 25, 2017, ooVoo announced via Twitter that the service would be shut down because it was not profitable. The applications and service were discontinued on that date, ending the brand's operation.

1. 2017Service is discontinued

   ooVoo announces and completes the shutdown of its service, citing a lack of profit.

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2. 2014Windows Phone and WebRTC support expand the platform

   The company releases a Windows Phone application and a WebRTC-oriented video SDK.

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3. 2013Video communications SDK launches

   ooVoo releases an SDK allowing third-party applications to use its video-chat technology.

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4. 2011iOS social video chat launches

   ooVoo introduces its social video-chat service on iPhone and other iOS devices, joining its existing PC, Mac, and Android coverage.

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5. 2010Android application launches

   ooVoo extends its service to Android mobile devices.

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6. 2009Browser video chat and business plans launch

   Version 2.0 adds browser-based rooms, link-based participation, and an open API. Version 2.2 later adds business plans, desktop sharing, international calling, and pay-as-you-go options.

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7. 2008Recording, phone calling, and Mac support arrive

   ooVoo adds video-call recording and phone calling, then releases a Mac OS X application to support cross-platform video chat.

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8. 2007Windows application launches

   The original Microsoft Windows application is released with video-chat functionality.

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9. 2006ooVoo is founded

   Philippe Schwartz and Clay Mathile establish ooVoo around technology associated with Arel Communications and Software.

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10. 1982Arel Communications is founded

    Arel Communications and Software, whose collaboration technology later supported ooVoo, is established with a focus on remote e-learning collaboration software.

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A cross-platform consumer and business communications service combining instant messaging, voice calling, group video chat, screen sharing, and developer-accessible video technology.

• ooVoo video chat and messaging clientVideo communications and messaging2007

  The core ooVoo client combined free text messaging, voice communication, and video calling. It supported high-definition audio and video, group conversations of up to twelve participants, video-call recording, and desktop sharing. Applications were offered across Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Facebook during the service's operating period.

• ooVoo browser-based video chatBrowser communications2009

  Introduced with version 2.0, the browser experience enabled users to join video-chat rooms through a web link without downloading the main client. This helped ooVoo extend participation beyond users with a locally installed application and supported a more web-oriented approach to video conferencing.

• ooVoo SDK and Video SDKDeveloper platform2013

  ooVoo supplied software development tools that allowed external applications to incorporate its video-chat capabilities. The later WebRTC video SDK targeted browser-compatible communications and represented an effort to make the company's technology available outside its first-party clients.

• 2017Shutdown following insufficient profitabilityOther

  ooVoo announced that the service was not profitable.

  What changed. The company announced through Twitter that ooVoo would shut down on November 25, 2017.

  Aftermath. The applications and service were discontinued, ending the ooVoo brand as an operating communications platform.

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• 2011ooVoo extends its social video service to iOSStrategy

  Mobile video communication was becoming central to consumer messaging, while ooVoo already supported desktop and Android access.

  What changed. ooVoo launched its social video-chat service on iPhone and other iOS devices, promoting cross-platform HD video communication.

  Aftermath. The release expanded the service's mobile reach and completed a broader PC, Mac, Android, and iOS positioning.

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• 2009ooVoo expands into browser and business communicationsStrategy

  The service was moving beyond a desktop consumer client and needed to support easier participation, organizational use, and broader integration.

  What changed. ooVoo introduced browser-based chat rooms, link-based access, an open API, multi-seat business plans, desktop sharing, international calling, and flexible payment options.

  Aftermath. These releases broadened ooVoo's product scope across consumer, business, browser, and developer use cases, although the service ultimately did not become profitable.

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• 2017ooVoo announces the shutdown of its service

  ooVoo announced through Twitter that it would discontinue operations on November 25, 2017, attributing the decision to a lack of profit.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2014ooVoo launches a Windows Phone application

  The service expanded its mobile platform coverage with an application for Windows Phone devices.

  Product launch
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• 2014ooVoo releases a WebRTC video SDK

  ooVoo introduced a video software development kit oriented toward WebRTC, extending access to its communications technology beyond its core applications.

  Product launch
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1. OoVoo