SendBird, a leader in chat and messaging application programming interface service for mobile and web applications, announced March 26 that it had added real-time voice and video interaction capabilities to its in-app chat experience.

The company said it hopes to improve the user experience for an increasing number of messenger users across the world and facilitate human connections by adding the new functions. 

“With every e-commerce transaction, every grocery delivery, every attempt to connect with a potential match on a dating service, human interactions are increasingly taking place in-app,” said SendBird CEO and founder John Kim. “By adding voice and video to our world-class in-app chat experience, SendBird makes these interactions even richer and more personal. SendBird can now serve as the backbone for communications in the ever-growing app-driven economy.”

The announcement came at the perfect time, as more and more companies are embracing remote work and social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SendBird Founder and CEO John Kim (SendBird)

Companies such as Zoom, which provides online videoconferencing solutions, have seen a sharp increase in demand. Shares in the Nasdaq-listed company rose more than 100 percent in the past three months while the global stock markets plunged as COVID-19 became a global pandemic.
The San Mateo, California-based company said its existing customers, such as Virgin Mobile UAE, have already signed on to the beta program.

Founded in 2013, SendBird provides messenger APIs that can be integrated into existing in-house messenger apps. It has more than 100 million active users, according to the company.  

“With the API economy taking off globally, companies are looking to vendors to solve parts of their user experience that are not absolutely core to their business,” noted Kim.

SendBird's service is used by many global customers including Yahoo! Sports, gojek, Careem, OLA, Headspace, Carousell, Virgin Mobile UAE, YOLO, Dream 11, Meetup, Paytm, Grand Rounds, Livongo, Nexon, TriNet, Accolade, Hinge and Kookmin Bank.

Last year, the company secured $52 million in Series B funding from Shasta Ventures, August Capital, ICONIQ Capital, Tiger Global Management, Y Combinator and FundersClub.

By Park Ga-young (gypark@heraldcorp.com)