Your inquiry could not be saved. Please try again.
Thank you! We have received your inquiry.
The journey of Jitsi is quite the tale—how an open-source video conferencing endeavor blossomed into an influential tool used across the globe. Whether you’re a curious developer, a business mulling over video solutions, or an agency eyeing white-label strategies, diving into Jitsi’s past and present will offer insights into how it aligns with your objectives.
Starting with modest aims, Jitsi set out to create secure and open channels for video and voice. Fast forward to today, it stands tall as a powerful platform with key players like Jitsi Meet and the Jitsi app, rivalling big names in the conferencing field. Follow along as we explore Jitsi’s beginnings, significant milestones, its acquisition by 8x8, present offerings, and the crucial contribution of its community.
Let’s rewind to 2003 at the University of Strasbourg in France. Emil Ivov, a researcher with a passion for open-source communication, initiated the project then known as SIP Communicator. Back then, the aim was clear: develop a secure SIP client backing voice, video, and instant messaging. SIP, as you might not know, is essential for kicking off interactive multimedia user sessions.
Initially, the focus was all about creating desktop VoIP (Voice over IP) clients that respected user privacy and could juggle multiple standards. Under Emil Ivov’s guidance, SIP Communicator evolved steadily, drawing in contributions from developers passionate about communication technologies.
In 2011, the project took on a new identity as Jitsi, which means “word” or “tongue” in Bulgarian—a nod to its mission of transmitting voice over networks. With this new name, the aim expanded from just a SIP client to developing a comprehensive ecosystem, including modern video conferencing solutions, servers, and APIs.
At this point, Jitsi was still running on community fuel, backed by volunteers. It was renowned for its advanced codecs and its openness, standing as a solid alternative to closed-off VoIP and conferencing apps often seen as restrictive or intrusive.
A bunch of universities and smaller entities were drawn to Jitsi because it handled multiple protocols and put them in control of their data. For instance, a research institute in Europe swapped pricey proprietary tools for Jitsi, customized to meet their specific compliance needs.
Following its rebrand, Jitsi reached several pivotal moments that cemented its status as a leading open-source video solution:
Every one of these milestones added real value. Jitsi Videobridge, in particular, solved a pesky issue in video conferencing: efficiently managing a crowd of users while saving bandwidth and server load. Meanwhile, the no-install browser experience with Jitsi Meet was a hit compared to rivals needing clunky downloads or accounts.
In 2017, a small digital marketing firm in the UK took the plunge with Jitsi Meet for remote client meetings. They loved how Jitsi Meet didn’t make clients signup or download anything. They even embedded Jitsi Meet into their portal, giving clients a fuss-free video call option under the agency’s branding, enhancing their image while cutting costs.
Come 2018, U.S.-based cloud communications heavyweight 8x8 acquired Jitsi. This marked a pivotal transformation in Jitsi’s journey. The backing of 8x8 brought commercial stability, deeper pockets for infrastructure, and a clear path aligned with enterprise needs for video conferencing.
Fear not, Jitsi’s open-source spirit remained untouched. If anything, 8x8 doubled down on expanding the Jitsi universe. They integrated Jitsi Meet as a core part of their 8x8 Video Meetings offering—reaching millions.
Here’s what 8x8 brought to the table:
From my time working with teams deploying video solutions, I’ve seen how 8x8’s acquisition tackled the usual headaches like support and scalability. Before 8x8 stepped in, managing self-hosted Jitsi servers was no walk in the park—it needed heaps of tech savvy and lots of manual effort. With 8x8’s cloud options, businesses have a reliable backbone, or they can still choose to host themselves with more confidence.
Nowadays, Jitsi Meet presents a complete, user-friendly, secure video conferencing option to cater to different demands:
Modern Jitsi Meet’s standout features include:
A fair share of users host their own setups, keeping full control of their data. For instance, educational centers favor hosting for safeguarding sensitive class sessions within their infrastructures.
I’m reminded of a university ditching a pricey video tool for a self-hosted Jitsi Meet server. They pulled this off, slashing subscription expenses by 75% while keeping student data tightly secured. Teachers loved the seamless screen sharing and the ability to easily let guests in—no logins required.
The Jitsi community is the real engine behind its continued growth and dependability. It’s a global collective of volunteers, independent developers, companies, and other contributors.
The community keeps things moving by:
This collaborative heartbeat draws in fresh talent who enhance and tailor Jitsi for novel needs. Take the COVID-19 craziness for instance—the community whipped up lightweight mobile clients optimized for lower-bandwidth places.
Due to its open governance model, Jitsi stays independent. Even after 8x8’s acquisition, the community ensures the platform remains accessible, maintaining a level of trust and reliability for the future.
Openness is the key to confidence. Anyone can peek into Jitsi’s code to check for security flaws. Recent updates support end-to-end encryption, and it meets GDPR, HIPAA (for healthcare), and other security frameworks, ensuring it fits perfectly for organizations with high privacy standards.
Self-hosting is an option for those wanting complete data control, avoiding any third-party cloud concerns.
Such transparency breeds trust. Users and auditors confirm that data isn’t being mined or sold, and meetings remain shielded from common threats.
What started as a research project flowered into an innovative, trusted platform over the years through milestones like launching Jitsi Meet and the 8x8 acquisition. Now, it’s an open, secure choice for millions looking past proprietary solutions.
If you’re up for developing custom video tools, managing privacy-focused conferencing for your business, or offering white-label video solutions, Jitsi’s history and development prove it’s a well-rounded and trustworthy tool worth your attention.
Thinking of trying Jitsi for your own projects? Check out the Jitsi Meet app or dive into the developer documentation to create your own tailored solution. Join the lively community to tap into ongoing support and breakthroughs.
Give Jitsi a whirl and explore how flexible and secure open-source video conferencing can be for your needs.
Jitsi is an open-source video platform that kicked off as a small academic project in 2003, focusing on secure VoIP communications.
When 8x8 took over in 2018, they added significant investment, improved infrastructure, and commercial support, allowing Jitsi Meet to expand globally.
Jitsi Meet is totally open-source, needs no account for use, and offers robust encryption, along with the flexibility to be self-hosted—great for privacy.
Definitely. Many agencies customize Jitsi’s open code to develop branded video apps for their clients.
People worldwide constantly work on new features, fix bugs, spread best practices, and support other users, keeping Jitsi fresh and reliable.
From setup to scaling, our Jitsi experts are here to help.