Websites using Tokbox

Okay, let s break down Tokbox (now part of Vonage) with regards to its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Overview of Tokbox (Now Part of Vonage)

Tokbox was a leading platform for building live video experiences. It was acquired by Vonage in 2018 and its technology is now the foundation for Vonage s Video API. Essentially, Tokbox no longer exists as a standalone brand, it is now integrated within Vonage.

Here s what you need to understand:

• Core Functionality: Tokbox/Vonage Video API provides developers with the tools to embed real-time video and audio communication into their web and mobile applications. This includes features like:
  • One-to-one video calls: For direct communication between two users.
  • Group video calls: For multiple participants in a single session.
  • Live broadcasting: For streaming video to a large audience.
  • Interactive live streaming: Allowing for user interaction during broadcasts.
  • Screen sharing: For sharing desktops or application windows.
  • Recording: Capturing video sessions for later playback.
  • Text chat: Integrating a chat feature alongside video.
• Target Audience: The target audience is developers and businesses looking to integrate live video into their platforms. This is a B2B service. It is commonly used in areas such as:
  • Telehealth (virtual doctor appointments)
  • Education (online classrooms, tutoring)
  • E-commerce (live shopping, product demos)
  • Customer support (video chat)
  • Social networking (live video features)
  • Gaming (in-game communication)
• Platform Agnostic: Vonage Video API supports various platforms and devices:
  • Web browsers (via JavaScript SDK)
  • iOS (via iOS SDK)
  • Android (via Android SDK)
  • React Native, Flutter and other cross-platform frameworks
• Infrastructure: Vonage Video API relies on a robust global infrastructure with servers in many locations to provide low-latency, high-quality video experiences.

Revenue Information

• Standalone Tokbox Revenue: As Tokbox was acquired in 2018, finding its standalone revenue figures is difficult. It was a privately held company before being purchased by Vonage.
• Vonage Business Revenue (Including Video API): Vonage, being a publicly traded company, reports its overall revenue. However, they do not break down revenue specifically from the Video API (previously Tokbox) separately. This information is usually consolidated within the overall Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) category.
  • You can find Vonage s financial reports on their investor relations page. Look for quarterly and annual results. These documents will give you a sense of Vonage s overall performance and the CPaaS segment s contribution.

Alternatives to Tokbox/Vonage Video API

The real-time communications market is competitive, and there are several alternatives to Vonage Video API:

1. Agora:
   • Strengths: Strong focus on real-time engagement, excellent quality and reliability, global infrastructure.
   • Weaknesses: Can be more complex to set up, pricing can be on the higher end for high usage.
2. Twilio Video:
   • Strengths: Part of the large Twilio ecosystem, offers a wide range of communication tools, good documentation.
   • Weaknesses: Can be expensive for heavy video use, sometimes perceived as less specialized in video than some other options.
3. Zoom SDK:
   • Strengths: Backed by Zoom, a popular video conferencing platform, mature feature set, good user experience.
   • Weaknesses: Limited customizability compared to other platforms, might not be the best fit for all use cases.
4. Jitsi:
   • Strengths: Open-source, free to use (you have to host), good for those wanting complete control.
   • Weaknesses: Can require significant infrastructure and engineering effort to set up and maintain, not managed for you.
5. Daily:
   • Strengths: Focus on simplicity and ease of use, good for developers who want to get up and running quickly, prebuilt UI components.
   • Weaknesses: Less customizable and feature-rich than some of the others, new entrant.
6. Whereby:
   • Strengths: Focus on ease of use and simplicity, very user friendly interface
   • Weaknesses: Limited features compared to others, may not be the best option for complex application use cases

Pricing Details

• Vonage Video API (Tokbox): Vonage Video API utilizes a consumption-based pricing model. This means you are billed based on your actual usage, primarily on the number of minutes of video used, but there are other consumption elements (data, storage).
  • No upfront commitment: Typically, you sign up and pay as you go.
  • Tiers: Pricing is tiered, so the cost per minute decreases as your usage increases.
  • Key factors influencing cost:
    • Number of participants
    • Duration of calls
    • Features used (e.g., recording)
    • Video quality
    • Region
  • Free Tier: Vonage typically offers a free trial or a limited free tier for developers to explore the platform.
  • Specific pricing: You need to check Vonage s pricing page and usually need to speak to their sales team for a precise cost estimate because prices are variable based on needs and location.
  • Be aware that costs can add up very quickly with a CPaaS platform when usage is high. You should be sure to plan, budget and test out the service.

Customer Care Details

• Vonage Support: As Vonage acquired Tokbox, customer support is provided through the Vonage channels.
• Support options:
  • Documentation: Vonage has extensive developer documentation for the Video API, including guides, tutorials, and API reference docs.
  • Community forums: Vonage has a developer community forum where users can ask questions, share solutions, and get support from peers and Vonage staff.
  • Email/Ticketing: For general questions and issues, email or ticket based support is usually available.
  • Priority Support: Businesses with high usage and specific support needs can often access priority support packages through service agreements with Vonage.
• Key things to consider about support:
  • Response time: Response times vary based on the support plan you have, but there is usually SLA s in service agreements.
  • Knowledgeable support agents: Vonage should have knowledgeable agents familiar with the Video API to help you resolve complex issues.
  • Self-service options: Leverage available documentation, API references and community forums.

Summary

Tokbox no longer exists as a separate entity, but its core technology lives on as the Vonage Video API. If you re considering a video API solution, Vonage is worth looking at along with the other alternatives. Key takeaways are:

• Vonage Video API is a powerful tool for real-time video integration.
• Pricing is usage-based so can fluctuate with your traffic
• There are numerous alternatives on the market that may be a better fit for your needs.
• Be sure to carefully consider pricing and support options before choosing a video platform.

To get the most accurate pricing information and explore specific features, it s best to visit the Vonage website and, depending on your use-case, contact their sales team. They can give you custom pricing based on your business needs. Good luck!