Amazon takes on videoconferencing with new noise cancelling Chime app

Amazon has added another tool to its long list of services – a video conferencing and chat app.  Called Amazon Chime, the app uses on-click dialing and boasts noise-cancelling technology for clear conversations – and can be used on Windows, iOS and Android devices.

The new release is the Seattle-based firm’s latest weapon to compete with the likes of Skype for Business, Cisco’s WebEx and GoToMeeting.

Chime was released by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and although the infrastructure is based in the US, AWS’s vice president, Gene Farrell, said the service can be accessed anywhere in the world.

‘It’s pretty hard to find people who actually like the technology they use for meetings today. Most meeting applications or services are hard to use, deliver bad audio and video, require constant switching between multiple tools to do everything they want, and are way too expensive,’ Farrell said.

‘Amazon Chime delivers frustration-free meetings, allowing users to be productive from anywhere.’

‘And with no ongoing maintenance or management fees, Amazon Chime is a great choice for companies that are looking for a solution to meetings that their employees will love to use.’

With Amazon Chime, customers can start high-quality video and audio meetings with one-click, allowing customers to host or join a meeting, chat, and share content and screens with a seamless, synchronized experience across desktops, iOS, and Android devices.

Users can chat with up to 18 on a desktop or laptop and up to 6 via a mobile phone.

Users simply download the application and get started using the service right away.

The service will call all participants when a meeting starts, allowing users to join the call with just a push of a button in the app – and no PIN is required to access the room.

And, those who are running behind can tap a ‘running late’ button to automatically notify everyone in the meeting.

Amazon Chime can be integrated with existing corporate directories, and provides IT administrators the ability to manage identities and control access across an organization.

Noise-cancelling wideband audio has also been added to the tool in order to deliver high-quality audio and clear HD video.

The also uses the same 256-bit encryption found in all of AWS’s products – making it very secure.

‘And with Amazon Chime, video works great across all user devices and many conference room video systems with no upgrades required,’ Amazon explained in the release.

Once in the meeting, the service provides a visual roster that allows users to see exactly who has joined, who is running late, and who can’t make it.