As employees have transitioned to working from home, and teachers are now interacting with their students online, video conferencing applications such as Zoom, Google Duo, etc., have made an incredible surge in the past few months, and it seems as though these apps will not be experiencing any downfall in the foreseeable future.
The features provided by these applications are also one of the major factors affecting the upward surge in its downloads & users.
Say Namaste
Namaste. Good News!
Last week of April’20, a Mumbai based software firm developed & released “Say Namaste” – a video conferencing online tool, that can only be accessed via a web browser. Since the app is in its beta phase, it is available only on the web however, their launch on the Play Store & App Store is expected to make headlines soon.
Also, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India had launched an innovation challenge, encouraging start-ups & tech companies across the nation to develop an application built in-house for all the citizens as an alternative to “Zoom”, and prize money of Rs. 1 crore was declared for the winner, while top 10 qualifiers receive a grant of Rs. 5 lakhs.
The co-founder & CEO of Inscripts – developer of Say Namaste, Mr Anuj Garg confirms the participation of “Say Namaste” in this challenge.
Video Conferencing – Necessary For Survival?
Under the current circumstances, yes, video conferencing is deemed as a necessity for the survival of many businesses, especially start-ups; considering the current economic scenario, start-ups will be the first ones to be wiped off the board.
The video-calling lifestyle has moved way beyond the employers & employees, from professional lives into our personal lives, dance classes, fitness classes, support groups, family game nights etc., have now adapted to this lifestyle, only to share a moment or two of laughter & happiness during a global crisis.
It also plays a significant role in the field of teaching & learning, since teachers are now capable of conducting an online lecture for a good number of students at one time. This way, there’s no hindrance to the education of the young generation.
What About Zoom?
Leading companies & businesses have been using Zoom when in-person meetings & conferences couldn’t be held, allows them to continue their workflow without any delays. Its main features include being able to conduct one-on-one meetings or a group video conference and allows the host to share his screen so the participants can see what he can see.
Even though many security & privacy concerns were raised against this application, employees at Google were banned from using Zoom for work-related purposes; however, this backlash seems to not affect its growth, which is rapidly increasing each day.
Several changes regarding privacy & security have been made, such as the requirement of a password to enter the meeting, & the introduction of virtual waiting rooms, which helps ensure that only invited members are allowed in.
Within three weeks in April, Zoom had 100+ million new users, thanks to lockdowns & quarantines being imposed across the globe.
What’s The Verdict, Then?
Honestly, every Indian will optimistically say yes. Yes, “Say Namaste” will not only compete against “Zoom”, but also outperform every video-conferencing application that exists.
This tool is still in its early stages, however, the nation-wide response to the beta version seems to have pulled a string of patriotism in the heart of every Indian. Our country may have gotten its first in-house developed video conferencing application, made by our brothers & sisters at Inscripts.
Since the website has been in huge demand ever since its release, there’s a message on the website that says users may experience connectivity issues & requests them to check back later.
The CEO’s primary focus lies in the safety & security of its users, which allows “Say Namaste” to stand strong & unique, unlike other applications that are made entirely for enterprises. He plans to deploy the best possible encryption & a two-factor authentication into the software before its official launch.
The simplicity of the user interface has also been kept in mind, for the ease of usage. So far, this software lets you conduct a meeting by entering a name of your choice, following which a link is generated with the meeting ID and the password that’ll allow others to join the meeting. At this moment, Say Namaste supports 25 participants in one call, and it plans to support at least 100 participants shortly.
It’s a long, long shot for Say Namaste to go past the potential of Zoom, but so was entering the Mars orbit in ISRO’s first attempt.
