Airtime - All you need is a Facebook account and a webcam.

 

Airtime blog Launch

Last week on the 5th of June, Airtime introduced itself as the first live video network service to create shared experiences online- all you need is a Facebook account and a webcam. From the Airtime Blog, its creators Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning were enthusiastic to deliver something fresh and new to “re-humanize” the internet. Airtime is said to not only be a product but a network service.

The service allows you to share live experiences through content, and expand beyond your social graph to discover new people through similar interests in an environment that is collaborative, fun and safe.

My first thought was how is it different to Skype? Well that was cleared up very quickly - Airtime shoves Skype aside and leads as the new and completely confident new kid. It is positioned as a social network that will empower users with fun and  personal shared experiences. Unlike Skype Airtime facilitates a interactive social environment for two people to watch content based on shared interests


The value in meaningful interactions
From a marketing perspective, Airtime is creating a niche for meaningful online interactions that mimics real life. Parker and Fanning launch blog post was short but had a succinct value proposition. Airtime is all about 'sharing the experience' in a way that is intuitive and somewhat more real. It will be exciting to see if this value proposition can stand apart from existing video chat services such as Skype and Google hangouts.

However the company does have some strategies to differentiate themselves from the pack. With its intelligent profile analysis techniques Airtime analyzes its users’ Facebook profiles, stores their ‘likes’, to find common interests between two people and match them into a video chat. This matching system  allows users to talk about their interests and experience meaningful interactions. To ensure quality of the conversation there is a points and badges program, where Airtime  awards users a points know as  'applause' for the quality of their videos. When users are matched with someone that they do not know, both can gain points based on the quality of the conversation.

Airtime's positioning strategy will be crucial in how the company succeeds in the niche market. Airtime can be the next big thing if it can occupy a clear, distinctive value perception in the mind of its users. With a solid effort for security measures and continual focus to foster quality online relationships, Airtime does offer an appealing alternative to video communication.