Amazon Web Services is expanding into unified communications services with the launch of a new online videoconferencing service. Amazon Chime, available for all customers, is a fully-managed communications service from AWS featuring voice, video, and chat communication.
The service is designed to work seamlessly across desktops and mobile devices. Users can switch between devices at any time, even in the middle of a meeting, as chats are synchronized across devices. Amazon said its new Chime service can be used for online meetings, video conferencing, voice calls, chat and to share content, with all services available from the same app. Users can join meetings via the app, which will also show a visual roster and allows anyone to mute background noise. The service offers apps for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.
Amazon Chime carries no minimum fees, with customers paying only for what they use. They will be billed per user, per month, and will have the freedom to change or cancel the subscription at any time. The service is available in three editions. Basic allows 1:1 voice and video calls, and the use of chat and chat rooms on all devices. Amazon Chime Plus adds the ability to share a user’s screen during meetings, and enable integration with a company directory. Finally, Amazon Chime Pro offers a full set of features for online meetings, including scheduling and hosting meetings, recording meetings, personalized meeting URLs, for up to 100 people.
