Rounds (website)

Rounds (formally known as 6rounds) is a video-enabled real-time social network with collaborative browsing, chat, multi-player gaming and built-in social recommendation features that can be expanded through an open API.[1][2][3] Rounds was founded by Israeli entrepreneurs Dany Fishel, Ilan Leibovich and Dimitry Shestek in February 2008.[4] Fishel is Rounds' CEO and Ilan Leibovich is the company COO.[4][5] The company is based in Tel Aviv, Israel.[6]

Rounds Webcam Chat Platform
CompanyGixOO LTD.
TypeSubsidiary of Kik Messenger
LaunchedJuly 2009
SloganSee You Around
HeadquartersTel Aviv, Israel
Key PeopleDany Fishel, CEO
Ilan Leibovich, COO
Dmitry Shestak, CTO
Websitewww.rounds.com
PlatformCross-platform

Rounds is the first product released using the GixOO software platform, which was created in April 2008.[7][8]

History

Rounds launched in July 2009.[9]

Rounds released an API for game, entertainment and collaboration-based applications in April 2010.[9][10] The company changed its name from 6rounds to Rounds in August 2010.[6] Rounds also released its application that allows users to video chat, exchange pictures, surf the internet and play games via Facebook in August.[6]

Rounds released Android and iOS applications in December 2012.[11]

The company discontinued the "Meet New People" feature of its platform in February 2013.[12][13][14] Rounds retired the feature out of concerns about security and privacy of its users, most of whom are under the age of 25.[12][13][14] In December 2013, company also announced its integration with Vidyo's technology that allows video chat capabilities to Google Hangouts.[15]

In January 2017, Rounds has been acquired by the Canadian messaging service, Kik Messenger, for a reported $60-$80 million. Kik will acquire all 35 employees of Rounds and turn its Tel Aviv office into a Kik product and engineering center, which will be its first international base.[16]

Features and uses

Rounds users create their own (embeddable) personal slide show to inform other users about themselves.[17] Users connect through messaging and video chats (referred to as rounds). They initiate rounds either by inviting a specific person or by joining a specified room based on activity, game or topic. Once users join a specified round they are systematically matched with another user interested in the same type of round.

As of 2013, Rounds requires a pre-existing Facebook friendship before users can begin video chatting one another.[13]

While chatting, users can share in various activities, including watching videos on YouTube, co-browsing on Facebook, and playing games such as chess, backgammon, checkers, and truth or dare.

External features

The Rounds platform offers an open API which allows third party integrations, from small scaled modifications to white-label solutions. Rounds was one of the first Google Wave extensions to be featured and the only video chat to be launched at the Google Wave beta launch.[18]

References
  1. Wauters, Robin. "6rounds Launches Video Communication Platform With Several Layers Of Fun". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. Rottmann, Ralf. "You have to try this: 6rounds launches amazing new social video communication site! (invites inside)". TheNextWeb. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  3. Alpheus. "6rounds: The Live Meeting Point!". Walyou. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  4. "Social video chat co Rounds raises $5m". Globes. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  5. Robin Wauters (20 June 2009). "6rounds Launches Video Communication Platform With Several Layers Of Fun". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  6. Robin Wauters (17 August 2010). "6rounds Changes Name To Rounds, Brings Its Video Chat Goodness To Facebook". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  7. Nahid. "6Rounds – A live Meeting Point". AntsMagazine. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  8. Ralf (10 July 2009). "You have to try this: 6rounds launches amazing new social video communication site! (invites inside)". The Next Web. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  9. "Video Chatting Platform for Collaborative Games and Activities: 6rounds Developers API Released". Huffington Post. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  10. Roi Carthy (25 May 2010). "A Taste of Startup Alley". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  11. Tova Cohen (8 January 2013). "Rounds video-chat service expects millions of users from mobile". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  12. Devon Glenn (6 February 2014). "Rounds No Longer Lets Teens 'Meet New People' via Video Chat". Social Times. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  13. "Video chat site tightens requirements". United Press International. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. "Privacy and safety concerns led Rounds to retire 'Meet New People' feature". Silicon Republic. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  15. "Israel's Rounds to integrate Vidyo's video chat technology". Reuters. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  16. "Kik snaps up video chat app maker Rounds for a reported $60-$80 million". TechCrunch. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  17. Ha, Anthony. "6rounds wants to add video to all your web activity (invites)". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  18. Zee. "6rounds brings video conversation to Google Wave". TheNextWeb. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
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