What is Zoom? Families, friends turn to free apps to keep in touch amid coronavirus
Experts aren’t sure how long Americans will have to continue social distancing to slow COVID-19’s spread, but with the number of coronavirus cases continuing to climb across the country, the all-clear is likely a long way off.
Despite the distance, friends and family are never too far thanks to the many virtual communication apps on the market, plenty of which are free to use.
This is not an exhaustive list of what’s available, but a quick rundown of some of the most popular options out there.
Zoom
Unless you’re a business, the free version of Zoom is probably all that you’ll need.
According to the website, the basic, no cost plan features unlimited one-on-one video conferencing calls, and even group calls of up to 100 people for up to 40 minutes at a time.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Zoom lifted some restrictions on the basic plan for Chinese users, a move company CEO Eric Yuan wrote about in a blog post.
“It’s my responsibility as Zoom’s CEO — and Zoom’s unique responsibility as a company — to do everything in our power to support those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak by committing our reliable technology, expanded access, and agile customer service,” Yuan wrote.
WhatsApp, the hugely popular free messaging app owned by Facebook, also features video and voice calling — all at no charge.
WhatsApp is especially useful for those with loved ones in other countries, as even international calls are typically free to make, depending on a user’s data plan or if they have a WiFi connection.
Recently, WhatsApp entered into a collaboration with the World Health Organization, launching WHO Health Alert, keeping users up to date on new coronavirus developments, straight from the source.
Google Hangouts
Google has had its own communication and messaging platform since 2013 with Google Hangouts, free for anybody with a Gmail account.
Messaging, video calls and voice calls are all available, and the application ties in pretty seamlessly with the rest of Google’s suite of apps and programs.
Skype
Finally, there’s Skype. Having hit the market in 2003, it’s one of the original video-conferencing programs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s outdated.
The free app is owned and operated by Microsoft, but is readily available for Mac and iPhone, and like the competition, messaging, voice and video calls are included for free.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 11:24 AM with the headline "What is Zoom? Families, friends turn to free apps to keep in touch amid coronavirus."