Vivu plugs multiparty video into Skype for Windows

$10 a month gets you multiparty video conferencing, screen/application sharing, browser and phone access for your guests, and video broadcasting. Vivu's VuRoom for Skype plugs-in to your Windows and Mac Skype clients. VuRoom launches your session using the Skype client. Vivu notifies your invitees to your call through a Skype chat. They can launch into the room through their own copy of VuRoom or click on a link to the browser version. Your meeting uses Skype's encrypted, high quality audio channel.  Here's a flash demo, an offer for a 15 day trial account, and details on subscribing to VuRoom.

Vivu isn't the first company to offer multiparty video for Skype, but their timing is excellent. Hundreds of millions of Skype users now appreciate video calling, paving the way in customer appreciation and behavior. This plug-in helps Vivu extend its market reach to Skype's large user base and builds on the love and trust people have for the Skype brand.

Vivu's core business is hosting webcasts, some with ten thousand attendees, and virtual meeting rooms. It's a highly competitive space: Apple iChat, iVisit, MeBeam, Paltalk, PeerMe, SightSpeed, ooVoo, ekko, TokBox, Dimdim, and WebEx are prominent in supporting multiple parties in video chat as part of the meetings.

Skype could easily target this market segment as it turns to business markets. Will Skype compete with partners like Vivu for customer attention, as they have with one-to-one video calling software partners and with desktop sharing software partners?

tags: skype, vivu, vuroom, video, videochat, videoconference, videoconferencing, software, plug-in, iChat, iVisit, MeBeam, Paltalk, PeerMe, SightSpeed, ooVoo, ekko, TokBox, Dimdim, WebEx

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