Integrating and monetizing global video chat across apps

Initially, the VLMedia team focused on traditional dating apps without real-time voice or video functionality. They saw the opportunity in video chat and started looking into integrating real-time video into their apps. Because they wanted to monetize this feature, they needed to find a trusted provider with the highest quality video streaming.

Another key requirement was the need for complete global coverage to reach users in any country, even where local network conditions are poor. For monetized live video chat, dropped calls and network issues would be a major problem. Building out this level of network infrastructure themselves was out of the question as they wanted to remain focused on their core focus of delivering user-friendly apps.

Network issues before Agora:

Choosing a trusted and easy-to-implement platform

After learning that other successful global social apps relied on Agora’s video chat technology, the VLMedia team decided to evaluate the platform for themselves. In the evaluation, testing Agora’s global software-defined real-time network (SD-RTN^TM) gave the VLMedia team great confidence that the video streaming could work anywhere and everywhere that users are located.

“The Agora team was extremely helpful during the implementation process and our development team appreciated the detailed documentation.”

Samil Gorgu, Product Manager at VLMEDIA

Agora’s extensive technical documentation and hands-on support showed the VLMedia team how easy the integration process would be, allowing them to get up and running quickly. Agora’s product stack contained all the functionality needed to implement real-time engagement across multiple apps, including video calling, interactive live streaming, signaling, and chat. Agora’s scalable and affordable pricing made it easy to start testing to gauge user response and impact on revenue.

Agora Products

Why VLMEDIA chose Agora:

10x increase in revenue with monetized real-time engagement

After implementing Agora, VLMedia was able to monetize its library of apps in brand-new ways and launch new ones. 

Usage of apps surged, with current levels at 400k daily active users from 180 different countries. Every month, those users spend 25 million minutes on video chat or streaming and 8 million minutes on audio-only chat or streaming—all powered by Agora and generating revenue for VLMedia. Just months after launching real-time video, in-app purchase revenues began to multiply, and the company’s revenue is now 10x higher than it was before implementation.

Results after implementing Agora: