Reliance launches its own video conference platform JioMeet to compete with Zoom, Google Meet

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Varad Kitey

Jul 4, 2020 — 6 min read

After launching JioMart, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio has launched JioMeet video conferencing app with unlimited free calling on July 2. JioMeet is available across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and web. Jiomeet plans to compete Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet during the Coronavirus outbreak. On April 30, Jio parent Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) had revealed its plans to launch the JioMeet platform while announcing its quarterly earnings for the fourth quarter.

As people are forced to change ways of working due to the COVID-19 crisis, video calling has emerged as a necessary tool for businesses to function. Hence, platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet have become increasingly popular. Now, to compete with these apps, Reliance Jio has decided to enter the market with its own video conferencing app JioMeet.

However, Jio Meet won’t be a regular video calling platform as the company also plans to integrate its Health platform with it. It will allow users to consult with doctors online and much more. Interestingly, Jio already had an app on Google Play Store listed as JioHH Doctor that allows doctors to offer their services online So this app could possibly be integrated with JioMeet.

In its Q4 fiscal results, Reliance mentioned that it is launching a video calling platform for India. Senior VP at Reliance Jio Infocomm, Pankaj Pawar, said,
“Jio Meet is a platform which has many unique options- it actually has an ability to work on any device, any operating system, and it has an ability to do a complete collaboration. And effectively, this collaboration does not limit to a typical video conferencing app.”

A report states that the Jio Meet app works across different platforms and is available on Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows and also as a third party plugin for Microsoft's Outlook email service for enterprise customers. Moreover, the service will be available on browsers(web). It will have a dedicated website that will allow users to join a meeting, irrespective of the platform they are using.

JioMeet Features

The company has said that it is ensuring that the service is easy to use and doesn’t come with a lot of complexities. It is also being said that the final version of the app will have health features along with integration with education services like virtual classrooms for students and more.

The website for JioMeet is listed on Google Search. Users can visit it by going to https://jiomeet.com/. However, it isn’t live yet and you will be greeted by the message saying “India's own most secure video conferencing solution coming soon.” The website will come into operations soon as Jio has been released officially.

JioMeet offers features like Zoom and Google Meet. It allows the host control options and to record logs of audio and video calls. JioMeet will also offer HD audio and video quality during the video conference across all devices, similar to Zoom. JioMeet allows unlimited meetings per day. The meetings can be scheduled in advance and details shared with invitees. Unlike Zoom, JioMeet users can expand any participant’s video or shared screen video by a double tap.

JioMeet offers easy sign up option with either mobile number or e-mail ID. It allows users to host instant meetings while Zoom allows sign up only with e-mail ID. In JioMeet, each meeting is password protected. The host can also enable ‘Waiting Room’ to ensure no participant joins without permission. It also allows for the creation of groups and single-click calling or chatting.

With JioMeet, users can initiate a video conferencing with their friends, family or colleagues at work. The service supports HD audio and video call quality with up to 100 participants in a group. In one of the screenshots on Play Store, the number of users is more than 200 which indicates the possibility of the increase in limit.

Moreover, JioMeet also lets you adjust video call quality according to the network zone thus ensuring zero lag. JioMeet also might have many features like locking the meeting. It might also let users share the screen. It lets host control who can join the meeting alomg with control to remove the unwanted attendees if required.

Apart from all these features, Jio plans to offer healthcare and education services along with video conferencing. Jio’s eHealth platform integrated with the Meets app will allow users to consult doctors virtually. The eEducation platform will create virtual classroom for students and teachers, record sessions and notes, assign and submit homework.

Also Read: Mukesh Ambani Is All Set To Revolutionize The E-Commerce Industry with JioMart

How can users use Jio Meet?

The Reliance Industries stated,
“Jio Meet is a platform which has many uniqueness- it actually has an ability to work on any device, any operating system, and it has an ability to do a complete collaboration. , this collaboration does not limit to a typical video conferencing app.”

As the JioMeet app has been officially released here’s how to use Jio Meet once it goes live.

Download Jio Meet from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
Open the app and it will display a login page that asks email or mobile no. for access. This will be same for all users including the enterprise users.
Users can Sign-in with OTP on the bottom right corner, just below the login button.
Enter your mobile number to get a verification code and enter the OTP to log in.
Once logged in, you can make audio and video calls and can even initiate a group video call by adding you Jio Meet contacts to a group.

Jio Meet Conference — Jio Meet will be releasing across many Platforms

JioMeet Vs Zoom Differnce

Basic free plan

The main JioMeet VS Zoom difference is that JioMeet app currently allows 100 participants in on a group video call which can last up to 24 hours with no restrictions whereas Zoom imposes a 40-minute time limit on group meetings of three or more people up to 100. After 40 minutes a new and fresh meeting has to be started. Other features include 'Safe Driving Mode' while driving, multi-device login support for up to five devices and seamless switching from one device to other while on call.

User Experience

The user experience of both JioMeet & Zoom app is quite similar. JioMeet is available across all platforms such as Androids, iOS, Windows, macOS and etc. JioMeet download can be done from the app store. Users can download JioMeet from its official website as well.

JioMeet users can schedule meetings in advance, create password-protect meetings and create waiting room as well. However, the video quality has been limited to 720p so far. But users can also use third-party camera apps for better video quality. Zoom also provides this feature.

Paid Plans

There are three paid plans for Zoom users - for small teams, another for small and medium-sized enterprises and lastly for large enterprises. The plans start at ₹1,120 per month, that allows 9 participants per host. For larger enterprises, Zoom allows up to 1,000 participants in one meeting. On the other hand, JioMeet app has not announced its paid plans as of yet. Hence, it is still unclear as to how JioMeet app will accommodate large enterprises. So JioMeet is likely to announce paid plans to accommodate more than 100 users.

Encryption

Encryption has a vital role in video conferencing apps. Zoom had to face backlash from users due to concerns regarding privacy and security. But Reliance Jio has claimed that all meetings hosted through JioMeet app are encrypted. Yet the company has not provided any further details of its End-to-End (E2E) encryption. To ensure the more security and privacy, Zoom has started offering E2E encryption to both its paid as well as free users.

Meanwhile, Jio said that it is looking at the opportunity from a different perspective to offer consumers with a range of use-cases taking security and simplicity into account. So, we can expect that Jio Meet will go live within next one or two weeks.