paltalk
{{short description|Video group chat service}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Paltalk Messenger
| license = Proprietary
| logo = Paltalklogo.png
| developer = AVM Software
| released = {{Start date and age|1998|06}}
| ver layout = stacked
| latest release version = {{Multiple releases
| branch1 = Android
| version1 = 9.2.1.0
| branch2 = iOS
| version2 = 8.4.2
| date2 = {{Start date and age|2021|11|09}}{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/app/id466970942|title=Paltalk - Group Video Chat App|website=App Store|date=2 August 2023 |language=en-us}}
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.paltalk.com}}
}}
Paltalk is a proprietary video group chat service that enables users to communicate by video, Internet chat, or voice.{{cite web| url=http://download.cnet.com/Paltalk-Messenger/3000-2150_4-10043373.html| title=CNET| work=Paltalk| access-date=2013-07-01| archive-date=2013-08-26| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826032443/http://download.cnet.com/Paltalk-Messenger/3000-2150_4-10043373.html| url-status=live}}
History
In 2007, the filmed suicide of one of the service's users was widely reported in the media. Concerns were raised over the possibility that it could inspire further suicides.{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Brookes |date=2007-03-25 |title=Live hanging shown on web: Alberta suicide-prevention groups brace for copycat deaths |url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/25/3828482-sun.html#selection-767.0-777.58 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070328220732/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/25/3828482-sun.html#selection-767.0-777.58 |archive-date=2007-03-28 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=CNEWS}}
Paltalk filed a series of patent lawsuits against video game developers claiming they were infringing U.S. patents 5,822,523 and 6,226,686 "Server-group messaging system for interactive applications", patents they purchased from the now-defunct company HearMe in 2002.{{cite news |last1=Bray |first1=Hiawatha |date=16 September 2009 |title=Westwood-based video game maker named in patent infringement suit |url=http://archive.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/09/16/westwoods_turbine_inc_named_in_patent_infringement_lawsuit/ |access-date=29 December 2017 |newspaper=Boston.com |archive-date=9 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209014248/http://archive.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/09/16/westwoods_turbine_inc_named_in_patent_infringement_lawsuit/ |url-status=live }} Paltalk first brought a case against Microsoft in 2006, claiming Halo and Xbox Live violated its patent rights, and later settled out of court.{{cite news |date=2009-03-12 |title=Microsoft settles lawsuit over Xbox |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Microsoft-settles-lawsuit-over-Xbox-1302404.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |archive-date=2013-12-03 |access-date=2013-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030237/http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Microsoft-settles-lawsuit-over-Xbox-1302404.php |url-status=live }}
In 2009, Paltalk then moved on to Sony, Activision Blizzard, NCsoft, Jagex and Turbine, Inc., claiming that these companies are also violating Paltalk's patents whose damages range in the "tens of millions of dollars".{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Michael |date=2009-09-17 |title=Multiple MMO developers/publishers named in patent suit |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/09/multiple-mmo-developerspublishers-named-in-patent-suit.ars |access-date=2012-01-12 |work=Ars Technica |archive-date=2012-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106185046/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/09/multiple-mmo-developerspublishers-named-in-patent-suit.ars |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Decker |first=Susan |date=2009-09-14 |title=Sony, Activision Blizzard Sued Over Online Games (Update1) |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=SNE:US&sid=aAhAaaSzKQIA |access-date=2012-01-12 |work=Bloomberg |archive-date=2012-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831010204/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory |url-status=live }} In 2010, a US judge dismissed the lawsuit against Jagex and stated "After reviewing source code for the RuneScape video game made available by Jagex, Paltalk and Jagex agree that the RuneScape video game does not infringe the patents-in-suit."{{cite web |last1=Graft |first1=Kris |date=17 November 2010 |title=UK-Based RuneScape Dev Jagex Wins Patent Infringement Lawsuit |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/122214/UKBased_RuneScape_Dev_Jagex_Wins_Patent_Infringement_Lawsuit.php |access-date=29 December 2017 |website=Gamasutra |archive-date=29 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232230/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/122214/UKBased_RuneScape_Dev_Jagex_Wins_Patent_Infringement_Lawsuit.php |url-status=dead }}
In June 2013, it was revealed that Paltalk was targeted by the National Security Agency's PRISM surveillance program.{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Michael |title=Reports: NSA siphons data from 9 major Net firms |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/06/nsa-surveillance-internet-companies/2398345/ |access-date=12 June 2013 |work=USA Today |date=6 June 2013 |archive-date=7 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607113440/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/06/nsa-surveillance-internet-companies/2398345/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Lobosco |first=Kate |title=Google ... Facebook ... Paltalk?! |url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/06/07/technology/security/paltalk-nsa-surveillance/?hpt=hp_t2 |publisher=CNN Money |access-date=12 June 2013 |date=7 June 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102065323/http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/07/technology/security/paltalk-nsa-surveillance/?hpt=hp_t2 |url-status=live }}
Tinychat
In December 2014, online chat website Tinychat was acquired by Paltalk. Paltalk stated that Tinychat would remain a standalone application.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2014 |title=Paltalk Buys Tinychat As Video Messaging Apps Consolidate |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/12/16/tinychat-paltalk-video-messaging/ |access-date=2020-01-13 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} Tinychat allowed users to communicate via instant messaging, voice chat, and video chat, and to create their own virtual chat room on any topic.{{citation |title=Tinychat Creates Disposable Multimedia Chat Rooms |date=May 29, 2009 |work=Lifehacker |url=http://lifehacker.com/5272145/tinychat-creates-disposable-multimedia-chat-rooms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905233734/http://lifehacker.com/5272145/tinychat-creates-disposable-multimedia-chat-rooms |archive-date=2011-09-05 |url-status=live |accessdate=2011-09-13}} Tinychat ran on HTML5 compatible browsers and standalone apps for Android or iOS. The chat rooms could contain a rolling maximum of 12 video and audio feeds. Tinychat, including all of its services, was owned by PeerStream.{{Cite web |last=Oyedele |first=Akin |date=2017-03-04 |title=We spoke to the chairman of the company whose stock exploded after people confused it with Snapchat — here's what he said |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-ipo-snap-interactive-jason-katz-2017-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024140953/http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-ipo-snap-interactive-jason-katz-2017-3 |archive-date=2017-10-24 |access-date=2020-01-13 |website=Business Insider}}
On November 16, 2009, Tinychat launched Tinychat.tv, which offers users the ability to live stream any video or show hosted on Tinychat. The service used Tinychat's API and provides the ability to launch a personalized page and channel for initiating multi-user shows. Tinychat announced that it would not charge for the cost of bandwidth.{{Citation |title=Tinychat encroaches ustream and stickam |date=November 17, 2009 |work=Softpedia |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tinychat-Encroaches-Ustream-s-And-Stickam-s-Areas-127232.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810170406/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tinychat-Encroaches-Ustream-s-And-Stickam-s-Areas-127232.shtml |archive-date=2011-08-10 |url-status=live |accessdate=2011-09-13}} Based upon restrictions, Tinychat.tv has been closed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
In February 2010, Tinychat launched Tinychat Next, a service similar to Chatroulette. Tinychat Next differed from Chatroulette with the addition of topic-based rooms.{{citation |title=TinyChat Launches Grouped Version Of Chatroulette |date=February 16, 2010 |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/16/tinychat-launches-grouped-version-of-chatroulette/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407162744/http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/16/tinychat-launches-grouped-version-of-chatroulette/ |archive-date=2010-04-07 |url-status=live |accessdate=2010-04-05}} In January 2011, Tinychat raised $1.5 million in funding.{{Cite web |date=25 January 2011 |title=Tinychat Raises $1.5M From Kutcher, Diddy And Others, Is Just Getting Started |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/25/tinychat-raises-1-5m-from-kutcher-diddy-and-others-is-just-getting-started/ |access-date=2020-01-13 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
On December 16th 2024, an announcement that Tinychat had ended services and closed down appeared on the Tinychat website. The shutdown announcement page featured an advertisement for Paltalk.{{Cite web |title=Tinychat has closed! |url=https://tinychat.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102160048/https://tinychat.com/ |archive-date=2025-01-02 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=tinychat.com}}
See also
References
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