The Periscope app, like Meerkat, allows anyone to stream live video to a wide audience with their smartphone. PHOTO | AFP
Twitter on Thursday launched its streaming video application
Periscope, a move that could dampen enthusiasm for the rising online
star Meerkat, which offers a similar service.
The Periscope app, like Meerkat, allows anyone to stream live video to a wide audience with their smartphone.
The
new app "lets you share and experience live video from your mobile
phone" and is "a perfect complement to Twitter, which is why we acquired
the company in January," Twitter's Kevin Weil said in a blog post.
The
Periscope team outlined a range of possibilities for the service,
including how it can turn any smartphone user into a global reporter.
SHARED EXPERIENCE
"What
if you could see through the eyes of a protester in Ukraine? Or watch
the sunrise from a hot air balloon in Cappadocia?" the Periscope team
blog said.
"It may sound crazy, but we wanted to build
the closest thing to teleportation. While there are many ways to
discover events and places, we realized there is no better way to
experience a place right now than through live video."
The
team said it sees tremendous potential for the app, which is available
to iPhone users with one for Android devices is in the works.
"Whether
you’re witnessing your daughter's first steps or a newsworthy event,
Periscope offers an audience and the power of a shared experience," the
blog said.
"Broadcasters on Periscope are directly connected to their audience, able to feel their presence and interact."
Earlier
this month, as Meerkat was becoming a craze at the South by Southwest
festival, Twitter cut Meerkat's access to some features, which could
limit its ability to grow.
Meerkat founder Ben Rubin
called the move "a small bump" for the service but said it would
continue to grow. The company scheduled an announcement for later
Thursday on funding.
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