Zoom announced on Wednesday that it’s integrating Twitch to help users to livestream meetings straight to the public for emote-based judgment.
The teleconferencing app announced the new update which includes other features such as avatars, the ability to send video messages and enhancement to contact center.
The more popular update – onboarding Twitch – lets users go live on Twitch directly from the Zoom desktop client, linking their accounts on both platforms. While it was certainly possible to stream Zoom meetings to Twitch prior to this update using third-party programs, the in-app integration should make it much easier to do so.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 14 (June 3 – Sept 2, 2024) begins registrations; get massive discounts with early registration here.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
“To help our customers streamline the process of sharing content within their communities and extend their reach, account owners and admins can now allow hosts to livestream their meeting or webinar to Twitch directly rather than manually configuring the stream as a custom livestreaming service,” said Zoom in a blog post.
This, in the face of growing competition in the teleconferencing market, appears to give Zoom and edge. Last month, WhatsApp updated its web feature to support advanced chatting and phone calls via laptops and desktops. The update shoots WhatsApp up to the level of other companies offering teleconferencing services. Zoom has been working to stay ahead in the market by introducing new features that differentiates it from others, integrating Twitch for livestreaming is believed to be another way the company will attract more consumers. But there is a few challenges.
Mashable outlines a few caveats that could hamper the new feature:
Livestreaming Zoom to any platform has previously been considered a paid privilege, and that app’s new Twitch integration is no exception. Zoom’s in-app Twitch connectivity thus isn’t available for free users, only working on paid Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education accounts, and even then only for licensed users of those accounts. The cheapest is the Pro tier, which will set you back $149.90 per year per license.
Livestreaming direct to Twitch also requires the streamer to use Zoom’s desktop client, so you can’t just start up your web browser and call it a day. Though if you’re paying for Zoom, chances are you’ve downloaded the client at the very least.
While Twitch made its name as a streaming platform for people playing video games, its users have significantly diversified since its inception. Streamers regularly broadcast everything from podcasts to roleplaying sessions to mukbangs, making the ability to stream a video call an attractive prospect to some.
However, unless they’re already making Critical Role-level bank on their Twitch stream, many creators will probably pass on paying for a Zoom account just for this feature.
The new update also supports hands-free peer-to-peer conversations through cloud audio intercom and individual voicemail messages from users phone or client to other users in the same account.