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

History

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Wauters, Robin (30 June 2009). "6rounds Launches Video Communication Platform With Several Layers Of Fun". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. ^ Rottmann, Ralf (10 July 2009). "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Devon Glenn (6 February 2014). "Rounds No Longer Lets Teens 'Meet New People' via Video Chat". Social Times. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Video chat site tightens requirements". United Press International. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. ^ a b "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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