Jianjun’s Blog

May 15 2008

OoVoo Won’t Replace Skype

OoVoo (what’s ooVoo? Read this post.) recently sent a survey request to users asking for feedback on its functions and possible improvements. Most of the survey questions compared ooVoo to Skype, which gave me a feeling that they were committed (and in the end ready) to grab some market share from that big brother.

However, a few days later when a new version of ooVoo came into being, it only let me down. Instead of offering more useful features, it takes away some of the coolest and charges a fee if you want them back.

The standard (free) ooVoo option now only has these:

• 3-way live video chats
• Unlimited 1-minute video messages
• Share and send files up to 25MB each
• Video effects

To add the following, you’ll have to pay 5 bucks a month:

• 6-way live phone chats (NOT video chats!)
• 500 phone minutes per month (to US & Canada numbers ONLY)

I have a feeling that ooVoo is targeting certain groups of people who enjoy making a lot of phone calls to the US & Canada each month. The old ooVoo had a six-way video chat function and allowed you to record phone/video conversations. Now you have to pay 10 bucks a month for them with ooVoo Super plan:

• 6-way live video chats (Used to be free.)
• Unlimited 5-minute video messages
• Share and send files up to 25MB each (Standard plan includes this.)
• Enhanced video effects (How soon will you get bored?)
• Record unlimited video chats (Used to be free.)
• Store and stream up to 1,000 minutes of videos remotely (I can’t figure out how to use this. OoVoo online help doesn’t explain.)
• Stream video recordings on the web (ibid.)
• Priority customer service

Have you noticed that their Super Plan is not that Super because you can’t make phone calls although you pay 5 bucks MORE than their Standard + Phone option? In other words, to make phone calls with your ooVoo Super Plan, you have to pay again and that makes 15 bucks a month to add the following:

• 6-way live phone chats (NOT video chats!)
• Unlimited phone minutes per month (to US & Canada numbers ONLY, subject to a fair usage limit of 3,000 minutes per month.)

It seems that the latest ooVoo software release and their new service plans are unrelated to the survey. Then why did you ask us for feedback, ooVoo??!!

Since ooVoo for Windows has removed the Beta tag, my best guess is they have changed strategy and tried to avoid competition with Skype, or ooVoo won’t replace Skype!

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4 Responses to “OoVoo Won’t Replace Skype”

1. # Didier Lahelyon 15 May 2008 at 8:56 pm

   Thanks a lot, useful…!
   : )

   [Reply]
2. # Randyon 16 May 2008 at 12:42 am

   It hard to say who will beat who. Like cellphone Nokica never beat SE (Sony Ericson). The market is so huge that no one can monopolize. Only keep going afford facility and friendly service is the way to victory. I never heard “OoVoo” in Taiwan^^,there are so many markets, Game in not over.

   [Reply]
3. # TheBosson 31 May 2008 at 11:26 pm

   I have been using ooVoo since first beta release and will continue to use it. I have been more than happy with the service, the quality and any questions or problems have been dealt with quickly.

   Everyone loves free stuff but it has to be paid for in some way. Skype makes you pay to make calls and only does 2 way video, how can you compare ooVoo to Skype?

   In my opinion there is no contest, ooVoo wins hands down.

   Yes I am going to pay the $10 month for the super account.

   [Reply]
   

   Jianjun reply on June 1st, 2008 6:00 am:

   This article was written after an ooVoo survey which compared its own services with Skype, giving me a feeling that they were competing with it. But its paid services later were not much related to the survey. I introduced that in the first paragraph of this post.

   I admit they’re offering different services. Maybe ooVoo simply changed strategy. I uninstalled the software because none of my 5 new ooVoo contacts use it anymore and none of my Skype contacts (more than 70) are willing to use it and I can’t find people to do a paid three+ way video chat.

   BTW, you have to pay 15 bucks/month for your ooVoo super account to make phone calls. The 10 dollars you paid is just for 6 way video chats, etc.

   [Reply]

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