Videoconference war: Skype and Google react to Zoom’s reign

11:12 GMT 04/23/2020(Updated at 11:55 GMT 04/23/2020) Short url

The coronavirus has shaken the world economy and the confinement has caused millionaire losses in thousands of companies. However, there are always exceptions. This is the case of Zoom, dedicated to conducting video conferences, whose value has risen to more than 39,000 million since the beginning of the confinement, according to Nasdaq.

Despite the existing doubts about its security, the application has become leader of remote communication thanks to its operation and details such as its grid-shaped interface or its personalized background. A reign with which he wants to end the competition.

For this, many applications have decided to adapt Zoom features. So, Skype, in its latest version for Windows, Mac, Linux and web, allows to change the background. So, now, users can place a default image, their own, or use blur so they don’t see what’s behind. Option found in the settings, in the Audio & Video section.

Possibility that also includes Microsoft Teams. The app The American giant for the business sector uses personalized funds to hide what is seen through the camera, like Skype, belonging to Microsoft.

It also joins the Google improvement race. Thus, the company introduced in its video call service Google Meet the mosaic format typical of Zoom. In this way, you can now view up to 16 people at a time, many more than the four participants it allowed before. Of course, it is still far from the 49 miniatures that Zoom can generate.

Beyond the grid model, Google Meet also video and sound quality has improved. Thus the app Eliminate background noise using a smart filter and automatically illuminate the image if the user is in a dark place. On the other hand, the conversation can now be presented in a Google Chrome tab and it does not need to be a window or full screen.

Improvements that are not only left in Google Meet, but also reach Google Duo. Unlike the first one, designed for work, this application is used to carry out more personal conversations, in which now up to 12 people can participate. Videoconferences that become superior in quality thanks to the codec change and in which they will be able to take photos, screenshots and introduce effects in augmented reality.

Even apps that don’t focus their business on video calling have perfected their system. This is the case of WhatsApp that has expanded the number of participants in a conversation to eight.

Changes with which they intend to cut distances with Zoom, which, along with the other apps, take advantage of a scenario in which videoconferencing has become essential for professional and personal development.