Zoom will take advantage of the unique capabilities of each platform. With Facebook’s Portal, Zoom users can use the device’s AI-powered face tracking for more immersive video calls. If you use Zoom with the Echo Show, you can use Amazon’s virtual assistant to make video calls with commands like “Alexa, join my Zoom meeting.” Once you have your calendar linked to Alexa, it will automatically start your scheduled meeting itself whenever you want. If you have integrated Zoom with a Google-powered smart display as well as your Google Calendar, you can say “Hey Google, join my next meeting” to initiate the video conference.
The interface on each platform will be familiar to anyone who has used Zoom before. When you sign in, you will see your profile picture in the top left corner, indicating that it is your account, and it will automatically sync with your calendar so you can see a list of upcoming meetings.
Zoom usage has increased substantially in recent months as more people started working from home. According to a recent revenue report, Zoom had 10 million daily users in December 2019, but more than 300 million in April 2020. People often use Zoom not only for work but also for parties and virtual meetings.
Both Facebook and Google have increased their video conferencing capabilities of late, in part because of competition with Zoom. Facebook, for example, recently introduced Messenger Rooms, which allows you to host group calls of up to 50 people. Meanwhile, Google finally added group video chats via Duo and Meet to all of its smart displays in June. However, Amazon does not seem to only support group video calling with the Echo Show, so adding Zoom to its platform is especially beneficial.
