Websites using Jitsi

Okay, let s break down Jitsi, covering its overview, revenue model, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Jitsi: Overview

• What it is: Jitsi is a collection of free and open-source multiplatform voice, video conferencing, and instant messaging applications. It s a popular alternative to proprietary video conferencing platforms. It emphasizes privacy, security, and flexibility.
• Key Features:
  • Video Conferencing: High-quality video and audio conferencing.
  • Screen Sharing: Participants can share their screens.
  • Meeting Recording: The ability to record meetings (depending on the implementation).
  • Live Streaming: Ability to stream to YouTube Live or other platforms.
  • Dial-in: Telephone dial-in options are often available (though this usually involves a paid service).
  • Security: Encryption is a core feature.
  • Integration: Integrates with other platforms like Slack, Google Calendar, and more.
  • Open Source: The source code is freely available, allowing for customization and self-hosting.
  • Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
  • Web-Based: No need to download an app for participants; can be used directly in a web browser.
  • Moderation Tools: Options for muting participants, kicking participants, and managing the meeting.

Revenue Model

• Jitsi is primarily funded through:
  • Donations: The Jitsi project accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support development and infrastructure. This is a common model for open-source projects.
  • Services: The company behind Jitsi, 8x8, offers paid services built on top of Jitsi.
  • 8x8 Integration: Jitsi is now tightly integrated with 8x8 s commercial communication platform. This integration allows 8x8 to offer enhanced video conferencing features to its customers. This is where most of the revenue related to Jitsi now comes from.
• No Direct Subscription Fees (for the basic Jitsi Meet service): The core Jitsi Meet platform, which most people use for free video conferencing, does not have subscription fees. It s a free, open-source service. However, if you require higher capacity, reliability, or features, then you will likely use 8x8.

Alternatives

Here are some popular alternatives to Jitsi, categorized by their general approach:

• Commercial Platforms:
  • Zoom: A very popular and feature-rich platform known for its ease of use. (Paid plans offer more features and meeting time.)
  • Microsoft Teams: Part of the Microsoft 365 suite, tightly integrated with other Microsoft products. (Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription.)
  • Google Meet: Integrated with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). (Requires a Google Workspace subscription for longer meetings and advanced features.)
  • Webex: A Cisco product, often used in enterprise environments. (Paid plans.)
  • GoTo Meeting: Focuses on business meetings and webinars. (Paid plans.)
• Open Source Alternatives:
  • BigBlueButton: Designed for online learning and education.
  • Element/Matrix: Decentralized communication platform with end-to-end encryption. (Can be used for video conferencing, but it s broader than just video.)
  • Jami: Another open-source option focused on privacy and security.
• Privacy Focused Alternatives:
  • Signal: Known for its strong end-to-end encryption (primarily for messaging and voice/video calls, rather than large meetings).

Pricing

• Jitsi Meet (Free, Open Source):
  • Free to use for basic video conferencing.
  • You can host your own Jitsi Meet server for complete control.
  • Limitations: Reliance on shared infrastructure; potential for performance issues during peak times.
• 8x8 (Paid Plans): 8x8 offers various plans that include Jitsi-based video conferencing along with other communication features.
  • Pricing varies depending on the plan and the number of users.
  • Check the 8x8 website for current pricing details: 8x8.com
• Self-Hosting:
  • Cost: The cost of self-hosting depends on the server infrastructure you use (e.g., cloud hosting from AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, or a dedicated server). You ll need to factor in server costs, bandwidth, and IT support (if you don t have the expertise in-house).

Customer Care Details

• Jitsi Meet (Free Version):
  • Community Support: Because it s open-source, support is primarily through community forums, online documentation, and blog posts.
  • No Guaranteed SLAs: There are no formal Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for the free Jitsi Meet service.
  • Documentation: The Jitsi website (jitsi.org) has documentation and FAQs.
• 8x8 (Paid Plans):
  • Dedicated Support: 8x8 provides customer support to its paying customers.
  • Support Channels: Support channels typically include phone, email, and online chat.
  • SLAs: 8x8 provides SLAs for its paid services.
• Self-Hosting:
  • Your Responsibility: When self-hosting, you are responsible for all support and maintenance.

In Summary

Jitsi is a powerful, free, and open-source video conferencing platform that offers a lot of flexibility. The trade-off is that the free version relies on community support and shared infrastructure. If you need a commercially supported solution with guaranteed uptime and dedicated customer care, then the 8x8 paid plans are the way to go. Self-hosting is a viable option for those with the technical expertise and resources to manage their own server infrastructure.