TokBox Puts Face-to-Face Video in Any iOS App With New SDK

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 21, 2012) - iOS developers can now easily add face-to-face video communications to their apps thanks to the release of the OpenTok iOS SDK. To date, it has only been possible to develop dedicated chat apps such as Skype or Tango due to the overwhelming technical barriers. Now anyone can use OpenTok to add interactive video to any application with just a few lines of code.

Furthermore, the OpenTok SDK enables video chat between apps and website browsers. So, for example, a user of the ESPN Fantasy Football app will be able to chat face to face with a visitor to the ESPN Fantasy Football website.

In addition to the release of the SDK, TokBox has also released its own TokShow app for iOS, allowing iPad and iPhone users to seamlessly participate in video talk shows with Mac and PC users. The TokShow iOS app complements the TokShow plug'n'play app for browsers, which was released last year and is used extensively by American Idol, Universal Music Group, the New York Knicks and last week by Jack Dorsey. Now anyone can join one of these TokShow video chats from their PC, Mac or iOS device.

"This tears down the walls of video chat, giving any developer the tools to easily build face to face communication into their own apps," said Ian Small, CEO of TokBox, the operators of the OpenTok Platform. "Imagine being able to look your WordsWithFriends opponent in the eye or interview your AirBnB guest prior to their stay. Freeing live video interaction from the walled garden of FaceTime or Skype changes the game completely, bringing a whole new level of social engagement around any mobile activity or service."

"The technology barriers for building an app with live video were prohibitively high, hence the low number of apps. The OpenTok iOS SDK removes all barriers, so no matter what kind of app or service you are building, and no matter whether for iOS, Mac or PC, adding live video can now be done in seconds."

Developers interested in adding live video interaction to their app can download the SDK at www.tokbox.com.

About TokBox

OpenTok from TokBox is the leading global online video communications platform, enabling the addition of live group video communications into any web property. Incorporating solutions for enterprises, entrepreneurs and developers, anyone with a web presence can harness the power of live video to drive user engagement within their site or service.

The scalable, customizable platform incorporates proprietary quality-enhancing technology and enables high quality video sessions with up to 20 live participants and unlimited viewers.

TokBox is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, CA.