Introducing Amazon Chime

Amazon ChimeNew Video Conferencing Software

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Amazon Announces Chime!

February 13th, 2017, Amazon just announced their latest product, AWS Chime. It’s a full-featured video conferencing and chat application ready for immediate deployment. Amazon will take on Cisco and Microsoft in a market Gartner estimates to be $12 Billion last year and expected to climb to $22 billion by 2020.

A new video conferencing softwareAmazon Chime has a huge value-add for network administrators already familiar with AWS (Amazon Web Services), Amazon’s widely successful cloud computer division. The video conferencing service will benefit from what amazon says is “a data center and network architecture built to meet the requirements of the most security-sensitive organizations.” (Amazon AWS Announcement). In true Amazon style, Chime is available for a free 30 day trial with no credit card required. The pricing model looks surprisingly like Zoom Video Communications freemium model which has been extremely successful thus far.

Amazon Chime Pricing vs Zoom Video Conferencing

Video Overview of Chime Unified Communications Software...

Amazon Chime vs Zoom Video Conferencing

Let’s compare the Amazon Chime’s pricing with Zoom, because they are strikely similar. As you can see both services are a offering a free 1-to-1 video conferencing option. Amazon is offering an interesting $2.50 service level which competes more with the Skype for Business entry level pricing. Then finally Amazon tops out at $15/month for a service very close to what Zoom is offering for $20/month.

World Wide Servers from Amazon AWS

Amazon Chimes Competitive Advantage

Amazon Chime has a huge value-add for network administrators already familiar with AWS (Amazon Web Services), Amazon’s widely successful cloud computer division. The video conferencing service will benefit from what amazon says is “a data center and network architecture built to meet the requirements of the most security-sensitive organizations.” (Amazon AWS Announcement). In true Amazon style, Chime is available for a free 30 day trial with no credit card required. The pricing model looks surprisingly like Zoom Video Communications freemium model which has been extremely successful thus far.

Software Look and FeelThe interface is clean and intuitive. The quality was incredible and client download size was small (a personal favorite feature for new software products). It looks like Amazon waited to announce the product until the software could perform super simple video meetings flawlessly. It seems like a mix between GoToMeeting and Skype for Business is the best way possible. I appreciate the persistent menus bar at the top of the software which will help new user adoption. All the must have basics have been included and Amazon Chime looks like a hit right from the start!

Amazon’s Potential in Unified Communications

Amazon has the ability to spread their service very quickly to current AWS customers which seems like the immediate plan. Because the own the world’s largest cloud based server system scalability and funding is not going to be an issue. Amazon could also scale the service to businesses and consumers already use the Prime service as well. Can you hear a “Cha-Ching” after the words “Chime” and “Prime” are said in the same sentence? Amazon Prime now has 54 million users, spending on average $1,100 per year.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-extraordinary-size-of-amazon-in-one-chart-2017-1

Amazon Chime Instant Meetings

Launching an instant meeting with Amazon Chime is incredibly easy. You would be surprised… It looks to me like Amazon has taken the best aspects of Skype for Business, GoToMeeting and Zoom. The persistent top bar is something I like personally because it feels like I known where to go for a launching a meeting.

Amazon’s Potential in Unified Communications

Screen sharing is just as easy with Amazon Chime as any other service… If not easier. The whole feel of the application is modern and cloud-based. It feels like you have the power of AWS (Amazon Web Services) put into a unified communications platform.

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Sources: Amazon Chime Announcement - https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2017/02/announcing-amazon-chime-frustration-free-online-meetings-with-exceptional-audio-and-video-quality/

Amazon Chart - http://www.businessinsider.com/the-extraordinary-size-of-amazon-in-one-chart-2017-1

Motely Fool - Amazon Prime Users - https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/26/how-many-prime-members-does-amazon-have-and-why-it.aspx

AWS IoT Buttons - https://aws.amazon.com/iotbutton/