QuickBlox, a startup offering a range of cloud-linked modules that give mobile app developers easy access to features such as location, content management, user ratings and messaging, has today rolled out support for video chat and a new pricing structure that will allow many customers to use the service for free.
We previously mentioned QuickBlox under its original name of Mob1serv when its UK-based founders pitched at Seedcamp London two years ago. Since then, the startup has rebranded and developed its mobile-backend-as-a-service (mBaaS) offering further. With the introduction of video chat, developers will be able to easily add video calling functionality to their apps. This accompanies the other chat modules offered that work alongside its augmented reality and mapping features among others.
Clearly aiming to boost its market share, QuickBlox’s new free usage tier is aimed at independent developers and publishers and offers 10 Gb of traffic/storage per month, unlimited API calls and unlimited push notifications. The startup says that this is enough for 95% of use cases. Beyond this, the company offers a paid enterprise option and a revenue-share deal for companies that resell QuickBlox’s services.
mBaaS is a growing trend as it rapidly becomes the norm for businesses in many sectors to offer mobile apps of some kind. Outsourcing backend technology can be a cost-effective and time-saving approach in some cases. Other companies offering a similar service to QuickBlox include StackMob, Kinvey and Parse. QuickBlox, however, is first out of the gate when it comes to offering video chat capabilities.
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