In this article, you will find out how to create your own Zoom – software for video conferences organization. We will tell how the Zoom platform works, what possibilities it gives to its clients, and also, what is needed to develop a similar software solution and how much it costs.

Services offered by Zoom

Before starting to develop a Zoom clone, you need to understand what this platform represents – what services it offers to the clients.

Zoom Meetings. This is a really simple and intuitive application for video conferencing, which can also be used to share messages and content in real time. Suitable for online training, business meetings, online meetings, or simply communicating via video links with friends, relatives and loved ones. In addition to the video chat, Zoom Meetings have some additional functions, such as calendar, planning, etc. Most Zoom users work only with this service.

What does the videoconference, organized by Zoom Meetings, look like?  Source

Zoom Video Webinar. Virtual events can be organized and transmitted to the network via this app. In so doing, 100 interactive participants and 10,000 participants with the right to view (all participants are interactive in the Meetings) can join such communication. Video Webinar is excellent for organizing seminars, lectures, presentations, training courses, etc. And the organizers even have the opportunity to monetize access to them with the help of PayPal, Zapier and other payment solutions.

How the virtual event organized with the help of Zoom Video Webinar looks like. Source

Zoom Conference Rooms. This is a paid platform service mainly for the corporate sector because it links Zoom and conference equipment to one system: Microphones, columns, acoustic systems, content management systems, warning systems, video screens (panels, sensory screens, etc.), projectors and other.

What equipment can be connected to Zoom Conference Rooms. Source

Zoom Phone. It is a cloud system for business interaction with clients through chat, calls and videoconferencing. This service has many useful functions, and it is easy to learn. But it is not available in all countries, and in some countries Zoom Phone functionality is very limited.

Zoom Phone app interface. Source

Zoom Chat. In addition to video links, the service also offers users the opportunity to communicate via text chat. It could be a private conversation between two users and a group chat. In this chat, you can not only share messages, but also share content - from images and videos to archived files. The design of the chat is simple and accustomed.

Chat of Zoom interface on a smartphone and desktop device. Source

Basic and additional functions

At the next stage of setting up your app to organize a video conference like Zoom, you need to define its basic and additional functions. Here is a brief description of Zoom functions.

Registration, entry. When creating a new account, users do not like to fill out large forms of registration, so make them as simple and short as possible. Add only the most needed items, such as account name, password and telephone number or email. For even more convenience, you can add the possibility of registration via accounts in Gmail, Apple, Facebook.

Profile management. Here is an overview of the user account, which is largely depends on the niche and the target audience of the videoconferencing platform. This is usually login and password, contacts, links to social media, payment data, list of friends, and activity history. In addition, privacy settings should also be available.

Seek and add contact. This function requires integration with the user's contact book and a good search engine with convenient navigation and the possibility of quick search of participants for login and / or telephone number.

Mapping the status of contacts. Users of your software for the video meetings should be able to show their status to other participants in the platform (online, busy, AFK, ready to start, etc.). In this way, the conference participants will be able to quickly understand who is ready for its start.

Organize an event. Any user can organize an online event in Zoom. It is easy to do so, and it is possible to invite the right participants immediately (from the contact list or by entering the account name). In addition, the meeting could be scheduled and added to its calendar.

Location definition. Geo-targeting allows you to choose the correct language of the interface, type of subscription, and method of payment. In addition, it can also be useful if you want to create a Zoom clone that will focus on the close interconnectedness of people within their area, for example, between neighbors.

Scalability. If an online platform is launched for group video calls and videoconferences, scalability implies the number of users who can participate in communication. In the Zoom app, there are 1,000 interactive participants and 10,000 spectators.

High-quality audio and video. Before the beginning of 2020 Zoom offered all its users audio and video of excellent quality (720p and 1080p). However, due to the large influx of users after the start of the pandemic COVID-19 servers stopped handling high load, so Zoom limited the quality of communication for users with free subscription.

Tape and transcripts. All calls and conferences in Zoom can be recorded, saved and distributed via the Internet. However, a convenient search engine is implemented in the listing and published videos.

Calendar planning and management. This is a convenient module that helps to plan and manage activities without leaving Zoom. For example, you can note all the activities in which you want to participate, and then the system will send a corresponding notification in a day or an hour before they start.

Notes. This is a fairly simple function that allows you to make text notes before or during live communication. It is very helpful if you want to mark important things during the conference or to make some reminders for yourself.

File sharing. If you do this function in your Zoom clone, make sure it is quick and safe enough. It is also desirable to add reasonable limits on content support and maximum file size.

Virtual hands-raising. Provide an opportunity to notify the organizer of the conference of the wish to speak or express concern. Now, this usually happens by means of an emoji in the form of a raised hand, but it is not always convenient, especially if the number of hands that have been raised is to be counted quickly.

Polls. They will be able to learn the views of the participants in the video arches on various issues quickly. In the background mode, the organizer of the meeting and / or the speaker may not be distracted by the organization of the poll and counting.

Audio deactivation. Disable the microphone of one or more participants of the video meeting at the organizer's request. This allows you to organize a speaker's performance and / or disable the microphone from those who interfere.

Noise suppression. This function analyzes audio signals and suppresses (remove) distractions such as air conditioners, urban noise, keyboard layouts, the scrape of chairs or noise during reparation or house building.

Virtual background. Useful function if you need a special background (with drawings or photos) or if you want to hide the mess in the room.

Co-use of the screen. Using this function, you can provide access to your screen to several participants in the meeting. It is useful to work together on a common project, to hold an interactive meeting with several leaders or for more communication with the audience.

Security and confidentiality. In 2020, Bleeping Computer (cybersecurity specialists) discovered in the DarkNet the leaked accounts of Zoom users. The discharge affected more than 530,000 users, with an average price of one account being only 0.2 cents per unit. Some of them were free of charge to anyone who wanted it. Launch your Zoom clone, make sure your platform will not have similar problems.

Additional opportunities. In addition to the standard functions of your software for video meetings, something unique may be needed. Something important for the sphere of activity.

Monetization of softball for online video meetings

Zoom uses a freemium monetization model that focuses on small, medium and large businesses, as well as customers in infoxia, education and health (e.g. telemedicine providers). The essence of the freemium-model is that Zoom's main functionality is provided free of charge, but with certain limitations that can be removed if you do not sign the subscription. In addition, Zoom has a paid solution for the meeting rooms called Zoom Conference Rooms (or Zoom Rooms).

Tariff plans for Zoom Meetings. Source

Platform, architecture and technological stack

Type of target platform. Choose a platform for your zoom clone based on the type of devices your final users prefer. For example, most employees of middle and large companies use computers, laptops and tablets, so if you focus on this niche, your target platform will be those devices. This does not necessarily have to be a separate desktop application, often enough.

If you intend to create a video meetings software that will focus on small businesses, your target platform will be smartphones and tablets. And it is better to develop an objective application rather than a web interface

Devices used by Internet users for access to the network. Source

Platform architecture. Service Zoom works as a cross-platform system that allows users to communicate among themselves regardless of which device (phone, tablet, computer or laptop) and operating system (Windows, Linux, iOS, Android) they use. For each such platform and operating system, separate clients have been created, which are linked to each other and with the backend as follows:

Zoom video conferences platform architecture. Source

The process of the development of the Zoom clone

It is best to develop software for video conferencing, such as Zoom, through stone design, as it is possible to ensure an adequate level of safety and high quality of video and audio-signals. In addition, only development from scratch makes it possible to create a unique design personalized to the target niche and audience. How to find and select a technical partner for the creation of such software is described in detail in the article: "How to Choose the Blockading Company”.

After you select the company-developer, the process of creating your counterpart Zoom will take place according to the following scenario:

1. Signing of the contract. You and the company-developer are cultivating (or clarifying) the concept of your platform for videoconferences (platform target audience, niche, functions, design, security, monetization). Once the project concept has been defined, time, cost and other details are specified. When all this is agreed, the agreement shall be signed.
2. Plan of the interface design. Next you, a business analyst or designer, develop a platform design framework. This is a simplified, schematic image of the application interface, which outlines the main elements of design, functionality and ways of users. When the framework is established and approved by all parties, a layout of the interface builds up on its basis - the design of the platform as it will be presented to the users.
3. Direct coding. At this stage, your software is implemented in software code. Depending on the target platform, these are done by frontend-, backend- and mobile developers.
4. Product testing. Almost immediately after the coding begins, QA engineers, who test the fresh code for bugs and errors, are taken to the work. Software testing takes place at all stages of software development until QA-engineer are convinced of its readiness to release
5. Deployment and support. When the software component is fully prepared and tested, it is added to various listings and social media. If this is a mobile app, it is also added to Google Play and Apple Pay (and their Chinese analogues).
6.  Support and updates. After the release of the platform, a support service is needed to help users solve problems and collect feedback from them. Feedback is needed to further improve design and functionality of the platform.

Cost of Zoom creation