The voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) based service will allow businesses to make phone calls using the cloud-based Zoom platform
The company is yet to disclose the exact nature of the licence and clearances it requires
With a focus on the Indian communications market, it also recently launched a virtual conference platform ‘Zoom Events’ in India
US-based communications platform Zoom has sought approval from the Indian government to introduce its phone service in the country.
“We are working on a feature called Zoom Phone, which has been very successful globally. We are working through a regulatory process to get it launched in India,” said Ricky Kapur, head of Asia Pacific for Zoom, in an interview.
The company is yet to disclose the exact nature of the licence and clearances it requires. But once approved, the voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) based service will allow businesses to make phone calls using the cloud-based Zoom platform.
The move comes at a time when the Indian government has been pushing over-the-top (OTT) communication players including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Zoom to secure telecom licences for providing calling services.
The draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 proposed that OTT platforms offering telecom services should obtain a licence just like telecom operators. Cisco’s Webex became the first such OTT player in September 2022 to receive a telecom licence in India.
Even though the world is recovering from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kapur is fairly optimistic about Zoom becoming a go-to communication platform. Be it conferencing, collaborating, metaverse or just plain-old calling, the video-calling platform is looking to tap into broad communication features.
Recently, it also launched its virtual conference platform ‘Zoom Events’ in India. Easing the task of web events organisers, the platform integrates webinars, meetings and team chat in one platform.
“We have a strong successful business in India,” he added, stating that the company is launching more products. It is also looking to expand partnerships with developers, distributors, third-party apps and hardware ecosystem providers in India and claims to be growing in India on the back of third-party platforms embedding Zoom’s SDK (software development kit) for video, voice, and chat.
It competes with the likes of Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco’s Webex and more. With the entry into India’s $20 Bn worth VoIP market, Zoom will not only compete with WhatsApp and Telegram but also Jio’s VoIP feature.
