Amazon Chime app adds dial-out, single sign-on features
The Amazon Chime app has new dial-out and single sign-on features, but the cloud-based messaging and meetings platform still trails rivals, including Cisco Webex and Zoom.
Amazon Web Services has been gradually building out the features of Amazon Chime, as the tech giant struggles to attract corporate interest in the online messaging and meetings platform.
AWS added a dial-out function to the Amazon Chime app this week so that users can program the app to call a phone number at the start of a meeting. The feature will simplify the process of connecting to meeting audio for attendees who are away from their desks.
AWS also recently announced it would integrate the Amazon Chime app with the software of Okta, a leading single sign-on vendor. Okta's platform consolidates the username and password information of an organization's apps so that users only have to remember one set of sign-on credentials.
Last month, AWS made it possible to conduct a Chime video meeting in Google Chrome. While all major browsers support messaging and most non-video meeting features, Chrome is the only internet client that supports Chime video conferencing. (Users can also install a desktop app.)
"I see these largely as incremental improvements that allow Amazon to better compete with the likes of Zoom, BlueJeans, GoToMeeting, Cisco Webex, etc.," said Irwin Lazar, analyst at Nemertes Research, based in Mokena, Ill.
Businesses expect all online meetings platforms to support in-browser video conferencing at this point, while single sign-on is a must-have feature for many large organizations, Lazar said.
Amazon Chime app trails rivals as AWS seeks greater share of collaboration market
Launched in February 2017, Amazon Chime is still playing catch-up with more established online meetings platforms. Amazon has stepped up efforts to penetrate the enterprise market in recent years, including with the release of the contact center platform Amazon Connect.
Alexa for Business, an enterprise version of the vendor's popular AI voice assistant, has the potential to gain traction in the enterprise market, said Wayne Kurtzman, analyst at IDC. The Amazon Chime app, however, is not yet on the radar of many companies, he said.
"While Alexa for Business will gain traction over time, mostly integrated with other products, Amazon has to prove that Chime will be here for the long haul, be better than competitors and be a trusted part of a custom, cloud-based IT stack," Kurtzman said.
Amazon is not the only consumer tech giant making a play at the enterprise collaboration market. Google also recently released a team collaboration app, Hangouts Chat, and an online meetings platform, Hangouts Meet.
AWS, a $17.5 billion division of Amazon, has sought to use low and flexible pricing to attract businesses to Amazon Chime.
When Chime first launched, AWS gave customers the ability to prorate the subscription fees of individual users by activating and deactivating their licenses on demand. Later, the vendor implemented a usage-based pricing system that costs $3 per day on every day that a user hosts a meeting, for a maximum of $15 per user, per month.
In announcing usage-based pricing in March, AWS said it expected the new scheme would reduce the bills of virtually all premium customers of Amazon Chime. Nevertheless, aggressive pricing hasn't been enough to draw attention from tech buyers.
"I rarely hear about Chime," said Alan Lepofsky, analyst at Constellation Research, based in Cupertino, Calif. "I think Chime could have an interesting differentiation if Amazon made it very easy for developers to add voice and video features to custom applications. That would make Chime more of a competitor to Twilio than to Webex."
Source: searchunifiedcommunicationstechtarget
Latest Jobs
-
- PCI QSA needed. Discreet Opportunity | London | Client facing
- London
- N/A
-
CH08421 PCI QSA needed. Discreet Opportunity | London | Client facing. Payment Card Industry - Qualified Security Assessor - London Seeking someone looking to accelerate their career, into a variety of interesting clients / projects. Must be happy to be onsite with clients- this is not a fully remote role. You must currently hold a valid CISSP or CISM or ISO27001 lead implementer certification AND one of the following; CISA, GSNA, iso27001 lead Auditor, CIA or IRCA ISMS auditor+ Visa sponsorship not available. Apply today for more information chris.holt@dclsearch.com Use this whatapp link to reach out https://wa.me/message/6USF5RAQBOZIP1
-
- Network / Security Infrastructure Engineer | West London | Permanent
- London
- N/A
-
Network / Security Infrastructure Engineer | West London | Current Config, Install, upgrade experience On prem / Datacetner experience essential. Hands on experience MUST include: Routing, Switching, Network Security (firewall, IDS etc), Microsoft exchange / Exchange 365. Scripting / automation experience wanted. Python, Powershell etc Regular travel to West London is required. Visa sponsorship not available. Apply today for more information chris.holt@dclsearch.com Use this whatapp link to reach out https://wa.me/message/6USF5RAQBOZIP1
-
- Security Operations / information Security Analyst / Engineer. London
- London
- N/A
-
Security Operations / information Security Analyst / Engineer needed for a London opportunity. A technical hands on role to investigate, escalate and proactively work to protect a globally recognised brand. Someone with SOC Analyst / security engineering background would be well suited. This position will join a small team and would suit someone that has broad experience across the security threat landscape. Experience / knowledge across industry GRC standards such NIST, ISO27001 etc very advantageous and a priority. You will work across multiple teams proactively working to secure the business. Must be able to commute to Central London 3 days a week. Visa sponsorship not available Apply today to find out more.
-
- Security Cleared Penetration Tester: United Kindom
- N/A
- N/A
-
Security Cleared Penetration Tester Deliver technical Penetration tests to the NCSC CHECK standard. Active CHECK Member or Leader status desirable either in Web Application or Infrastructure. Reach out to find out more. Whatsapp directly here https://wa.me/message/6USF5RAQBOZIP1 Or apply today