Vivox

Vixox, Inc.
Private, Incorporation
Industry Video games, Voip
Founded 2005
Headquarters Natick, Massachusetts, United States
Key people
Rob Seaver, CEO
Products Vivox precision studio />Web Voice
Vivox Voice on Facebook
Revenue Unknown
Number of employees
Unknown
Website www.vivox.com

Vivox, Inc provides managed communication services in the form of integrated voice chat, Instant Messaging (IM) and presence to online games, virtual worlds and other online communities. It is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, United States.

History

Vivox was founded by Jeff Pulver in 2005. On September 19, 2005 Vivox announced that they had received $6 million in venture capital funding from Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital.

On November 13, 2007 Vivox announced that they had secured $7.8 million in series B financing. The B round financing was led by Benchmark Capital and supported by existing investors Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital. With the support of Benchmark Capital, former CEO of JAMDAT Mobile, Mitch Lasky was added to the Vivox board of directors.

On February 2, 2010 Vivox announced that they had raised $6.8 Million in funding for their C round. The round was led by IDG Ventures and included follow on investment from existing investors, Benchmark Capital, Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital. In addition IDG Ventures, Managing Director, Phil Sanderson joined the Vivox Board.

Major Announcements

On May 10, 2006 CCP Games and Vivox announced that EVE Online players would have real-time, in-game voice communication as the result of an agreement between the two companies. Vivox provided CCP with an integrated solution that allows players to speak with each other in-game, create audio conference channels for their gang, corporation or alliance.[1]

On February 27, 2007, Vivox announced a partnership with Linden Labs and that they would provide integrated voice communications to the Second Life Grid. This included spatial audio that allows residents to hear each other based on their positions. This technology was licensed from DiamondWare Technologies.[2]

During the 2008 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, Vivox announced a partnership with Sony Online Entertainment.[3] The agreement between the two companies brought integrated voice chat into all existing and planned SOE products including SOE's out of game communication application, Station Launcher.[3] At this point the SOE games that include Vivox Voice are: EverQuest, APB, EverQuest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, and Planetside 2.

On May 13, 2008 Vivox and NCsoft announced a partnership that would bring voice to the NCsoft player community.[4]

September 16, 2008 it was announced that Vivox would provide voice technology for 38 Studios upcoming MMO.[5]

March 24, 2009 Vivox and Real Time Worlds declared that Vivox would provide voice for Real Time Worlds' MMO, APB. To be included in this integration is use of Vivox's spatial 3D voice capabilities.[6]

Integrations

Online Games and Virtual Worlds

Known integrations of Vivox's communications platform in online games and virtual worlds.

Company Product Status
CCP Games[7] EVE Online Live
CCP Games Dust 514 Live
Nexon Corporation[8] Combat Arms Removed[9]
Linden Lab[10] Second Life Live
Daybreak Game Company[3] EverQuest Live
Daybreak Game Company[3] EverQuest II Live
Daybreak Game Company[3] H1Z1: Just Survive Live
Daybreak Game Company[3] H1Z1: King of the Kill Live
Daybreak Game Company[3] Star Wars Galaxies Live
Daybreak Game Company PlanetSide 2 Live
Daybreak Game Company DC Universe Online Live
Piranah Games MechWarrior Online Removed
Electronic Arts[11] Command & Conquer 4 Live
IMVU[12] IMVU Removed[13]
Runewaker Entertainment[14] Runes of Magic Live
Hi-Rez Studios[15] Global Agenda Live
Gaia Online[16] zOMG! Removed
CyberSports[17] Football Superstars Live
Icarus Studios[18] Fallen Earth Live
Metaversum[19] Twinity Live
Realtime Worlds APB: All Points Bulletin Early Release
Bigpoint Games[20] Bigpoint N/A (TBD)
NCsoft[21] TBD N/A (TBD)
Wizards of the Coast[22] Dungeons & Dragons Insider N/A (TBD)
Nexon War Rock N/A
Wargaming World of Tanks since 0.7.5
Gaijin Entertainment War Thunder Live
ZeniMax Online Studios The Elder Scrolls Online Live
Cryptic Studios Neverwinter Live
Cryptic Studios Star Trek Online Live
Blizzard Entertainment Overwatch Live

Middleware Platforms

Known middleware integrations of Vivox's communications platform.

Company Product
BigWorld Technology[23] BigWorld Technology Suite
Icarus Studios[24] Icarus Developer Tools Suite
Monumental Games[25] Monumental Technology Suite
Multiverse Network[26][27] Multiverse Platform
Simutronics[19] HeroEngine

Country Blocks

Certain Internet service providers of a few countries block the Vivox services from working (due to VoIP restriction laws), which will prevent it from working in any games that it's a part of. Countries include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and others.

Other Products

C3 - Command, Control, Communicate

C3 is a standalone voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) client where computer users are able to connect and speak with fellow computer users. C3 allows users to chat both through text and voice by creating chat channels with a maximum capacity of 100 users in each channel.

The target audience of C3 is gamers who can use the software to communicate with other gamers among the same guild, team, clan, etc. on an online multiplayer game (MMO). Voice communication allows for players to use teamwork to their advantage while creating a sense of online community.[28]

See also

References

  1. CCP. "Press Releases". EVE Online. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  2. "Vivox". Vivox. February 27, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vivox Press Release February 20, 2008: Ma Bell, Meet Joe Gamer: Sony Online Entertainment Ushers in New Era of Voice Chat for Online Games with Powerful Suite of Communication Services . Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  4. "News – NCsoft, Vivox Partner For Voice Middleware Deal". Gamasutra. May 13, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  5. "Vivox to Provide Voice Technology for 38 Studios' Upcoming Online Entertainment Experience". 38studios.com. September 16, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  6. "All Points Bulletin – Vivox Adds Voice to APB". MMORPG.com. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  7. Vivox Press Release May 10, 2006: Eve Online Screams with Vivox Real-Time Voice Technology . Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  8. . Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  9. "Vivox Removal". Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. Vivox Press Release February 27, 2007: Vivox Gives Voice to Second Life . Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  11. "Vivox, Bringer of Voice to Virtual Worlds, Strikes Major Deal with Electronic Arts". Xconomy. September 15, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  12. "IMVU Adds Voice From Vivox". Virtual Worlds News. March 11, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  13. "Notice regarding removal of voice chat feature". IMVU. March 4, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  14. "'Runes of Magic' Integrates Vivox Voice Chat". Worthplaying. March 8, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  15. "Global Agenda to feature Vivox voice integration". Massively. November 10, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  16. "'zOMG!' Adds Vivox Voice Chat". Worthplaying. October 19, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  17. Vivox Press Release June 10, 2008: CyberSports Ltd. Scores with Voice from Vivox . Retrieved June 13, 2008.
  18. Vivox Press Release September 5, 2006: Vivox Gives Voice to the Battle for Fallen Earth . Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  19. 1 2 Vivox Press Release February 13, 2008: Metaversum, Simutronics & Stratics Select Vivox for Integrated Voice . Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  20. "BigPoint, Vivox Games Announces Voice Chat on Social Games". Socialtimes.com. February 10, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  21. Vivox Press Release May 13, 2008: NCsoft and Vivox Announce Collaboration to Bring Voice to the NCsoft Player Community . Retrieved June 13, 2008.
  22. Vivox Press Release August 21, 2007: Vivox Powers Voice Chat for Wizards of the Coast's New Dungeons & Dragons Insider . Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  23. Vivox Press Release September 5, 2006: Vivox and BigWord Pty Ltd Announce Partnership . Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  24. Vivox Press Release June 5, 2007: Icarus Studios Selects Vivox to Deliver Voice to 3D Online Worlds . Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  25. Vivox Press Release May 8, 2007: Monumental Games Chooses Vivox to Deliver Proven and Scalable Voice to MMOG Customers . Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  26. Vivox Press Release April 1, 2008: Multiverse Selects Vivox to Deliver Voice to Virtual World Developers . Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  27. Gamasutra Product News April 1, 2008: Multiverse Adds Vivox To Virtual World Platform . Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  28. Hamilton, Kirk. "Good News: Online Games Are Getting Less Obnoxious". Retrieved 2015-08-24.
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