Zoom (software)
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| Zoom (software) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Zoom |
| Developer | Zoom Video Communications |
| Released | 2013 |
| Latest release version | 5.x |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Platform | x86, ARM |
| Genre | Videoconferencing, teleconferencing |
| License | Proprietary |
Zoom (software) Zoom is a proprietary videotelephony and online chat application developed by Zoom Video Communications. It provides remote conferencing services that integrate video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration tools used across organizations such as Salesforce, Walmart, American Airlines, NASA and United Nations. The service rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic as businesses, schools, governments and healthcare providers increased reliance on remote communication platforms.
History
Founded by Eric Yuan in 2011 after his departure from WebEx and Cisco Systems, Zoom Video Communications launched its product in 2013. Early investors included Sequoia Capital and Emergence Capital Partners, and the company completed a successful initial public offering on the Nasdaq in 2019. Zoom saw rapid user growth following public adoption by institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, NYU and large corporations during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, prompting scrutiny from regulators like the Federal Trade Commission and lawmakers in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom.
Features
Zoom offers features for meetings, webinars, chat and phone services used by organizations including McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, BBC and The New York Times. Core functionality includes high-definition video and audio conferencing, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, recording to cloud or local storage, live transcription, and meeting scheduling integrated with Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Slack and Salesforce. Additional services include Zoom Phone, Zoom Rooms, Zoom Webinar, and Zoom Apps, with interoperability using standards from SIP, H.323 and integrations with devices from Poly (company), Logitech International, Cisco Systems and Avaya.
Security and privacy
Zoom implemented end-to-end encryption options and security updates following criticism from entities such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, lawmakers in the United States Congress and privacy regulators in the European Union. Security measures include AES 256-bit GCM encryption for meeting data, waiting rooms, passcodes, and multi-factor authentication used by organizations like U.S. Department of Defense contractors and healthcare providers under HIPAA frameworks. The company faced investigations by agencies including the Federal Trade Commission and privacy authorities in Canada and Australia over data routing and disclosure practices, prompting transparency reports and revised privacy policies.
Reception and criticism
Critics ranging from technology journalists at The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and Wired (magazine) to advocacy groups like Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU raised concerns about security, privacy and user data handling. Academic researchers from institutions such as Stanford University, MIT, UCLA, University of Oxford and University of Toronto published analyses of vulnerabilities and metadata concerns. Positive reception highlighted Zoom’s ease of use and scalability praised by organizations such as World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNESCO, while negative coverage focused on incidents labeled "Zoombombing," encryption claims, and corporate governance issues scrutinized by investors like Baillie Gifford and analysts at Goldman Sachs.
Business model and usage
Zoom’s revenue model centers on freemium subscription tiers used by enterprises including IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Accenture and educational institutions such as University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. Paid plans provide extended meeting durations, larger participant capacities, cloud recording and administrative controls. Zoom’s public offering on the NASDAQ created substantial market valuation that attracted institutional investors including BlackRock and Vanguard Group. The platform’s adoption spans telemedicine with providers like Teladoc Health, remote learning in school districts such as Los Angeles Unified School District and large-scale events hosted by cultural organizations including The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Competitors and integrations
Zoom competes with videoconferencing products from Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft Teams), Google LLC (Google Meet), Cisco Systems (Webex), LogMeIn (GoToMeeting), BlueJeans Network and Amazon.com, Inc. services like Amazon Chime. It integrates with productivity suites and platforms including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Salesforce, Dropbox, Atlassian and learning management systems such as Canvas (learning management system) and Moodle.
Availability and system requirements
Zoom clients are available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. System requirements vary by platform; recommended minimums for desktops typically include recent versions of Microsoft Windows 10, macOS Big Sur or later, a dual-core processor, and broadband internet with upload/download speeds suitable for high-definition video. Hardware-certified solutions are offered for conference rooms by manufacturers such as Poly (company), Logitech International, Crestron, Cisco Systems and DTEN.