Paltalk
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|---|---|
| Developer(s) | AVM Software |
| Stable release | Version 10.1 Build 430 / December, 2011 |
| Preview release | N/A |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| License | Proprietary |
Paltalk Messenger, also known as Paltalk, is an internet chat service that enables users to communicate via instant messaging, voice and video chat. It offers chat rooms and the ability for users to create their own public virtual chat room. Paltalk Messenger is a downloadable software application for Windows. Paltalk Messenger is available in two formats: Paltalk Messenger and PaltalkExpress.
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[edit] Related Paltalk Software
Paltalk and HearMe are owned by AVM Software, which is a privately held company founded in 1998 and based in New York City, NY. Paltalk became popular after Firetalk, an earlier voice and music chat program which became unable to maintain operation due to a lack of adequate funding.[citation needed]
[edit] Paltalk Mobile
Paltalk Mobile is a mobile client for the BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android.[1]
[edit] Paltalk Express
PaltalkExpress is a free web based flash application which can be accessed using any Internet browser.[2]. It has also been featured as one of the most popular communication apps in the Google Chrome Web Store.[3]
[edit] Paltalk Video Chat Widget
Paltalk has a widget called Paltalk Video Chat Widget that was released May 12, 2009.[citation needed] It allows website visitors to view Paltalk rooms, both text and video. Users can now text-chat directly from the widget.
[edit] HearMe
HearMe was acquired by Paltalk in 2001 and re-launched as a product in 2007. HearMe provides VoIP, Desktop Sharing and video conferencing in a scalable manner, allowing up to 2,000 simultaneous participants in each meeting "room".[citation needed]
[edit] Original Content
Paltalk produces a number[citation needed] of original programs for its PaltalkScene platform including Stevedtrm's 911 Truthers commentary in Mainstream Politics, News Talk Online, Hollywood Now with Joanne Colan and MusicScene. The hosted shows feature celebrities, politicians, musicians and entertainers who are able to interact live with the viewers through video chat.[4]
[edit] Kevin Whitrick
- See main article: Kevin Whitrick
In 2007, Kevin Whitrick hanged himself live on one of Paltalk's chatrooms. The chatroom he was using at the time was one of the popular 'insult chatrooms' where users insult each other. While Whitrick threatened to kill himself, some of the users pleaded for him to stop while others encouraged him; some of whom would later claim they thought it was a hoax when the UK's Home Office launched an investigation into one hundred of the users involved in the chat room. [5][6]
[edit] Use as an educational aid
Paltalk has been used as a medium for teaching English by offering password-protected chatrooms of up to three users. Educators have praised both the sufficient audio quality to teach language and the 'Request Talk' button which allows teachers control over who is speaking at any one time, much like a conventional classroom. Parents and teachers are warned however, not to allow unsupervised access to Paltalk due to some of its chatrooms being "dominated by sexual, obscene or defamatory communication" and that although the software has Parental Control options, these do not extend to chat room limitations, do not protect against online predators and are easily circumvented by reinstalling the software. [7]
[edit] Patent lawsuits
Paltalk filed a series of patent lawsuits in 2009 against video game developers claiming they were infringing US patents 5,822,523 and 6,226,686 "Server-group messaging system for interactive applications." Paltalk first brought a case against Microsoft, claiming Halo and Xbox Live violated its patent rights, and settled in an out of court settlement for $90 million USD in 2009, despite Microsoft lawyers contending that Paltalk bought the patent for under $200,000.
Paltalk then moved on to Sony, Activision Blizzard, NCsoft, Jagex and Turbine Studios, claiming that these companies are also violating Paltalk's patents whose damages range in the "tens of millions of dollars". This has sparked some controversy in the video gamer community as some of these companies are known for selling games for under USD $20, and Jagex provides Runescape for free. [8][9][10]
In late 2010, Jagex successfully defended against such a lawsuit. Jagex's CEO made the following statement "It is exceedingly unfortunate that the U.S. legal system can force a company with a sole presence in Cambridge, UK to incur a seven-digit expense and waste over a year of management time on a case with absolutely no merit," he went on to say that Jagex "will not hesitate to vigorously defend our position against any patent trolls who bring lawsuits against us in the future.".[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Mobile App". Paltalk. http://www.paltalk.com/mobile/. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "Try Paltalk Express - Access free chat rooms, IM and video chat". Paltalk. http://www.paltalk.com/express/. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "Google Chrome Selects Paltalk Express For New Chrome Web Store" (Press release). MyPRGenie[unreliable source]. 2010-12-10. http://www.myprgenie.com/view-publication/google-chrome-selects-paltalk-express-for-new-chrome-web-store. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ Neal, Brian (2008-07-28). "Paltalk Express (beta)". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2326621,00.asp. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "Chatroom hanging captured on webcam". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-03-26. http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/chatroom-hanging-on-webcam/2007/03/24/1174761314885.html?s_cid=rss_technology. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "Police consider charging chatroom users for inciting cyber suici". The Australian. 2007-03-26. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/police-consider-charging-chatroom-users-for-inciting-cyber-suici/story-e6frg6so-1111113222755. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ Satya, R. K. (2008). Modern Methods of Teaching English. New Delhi: APH Publishing. pp. 115-117. ISBN 9788131302408. http://books.google.com/books?id=JLpKA6JA5TAC&pg=PA115.
- ^ Thompson, Michael (2009-09-17). "Multiple MMO developers/publishers named in patent suit". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/09/multiple-mmo-developerspublishers-named-in-patent-suit.ars. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ Decker, Susan (2009-09-14). "Sony, Activision Blizzard Sued Over Online Games (Update1)". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=SNE:US&sid=aAhAaaSzKQIA. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ Bray, Hiawatha (2009-09-16). "Westwood-based video game maker named in patent infringement suit". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/09/16/westwoods_turbine_inc_named_in_patent_infringement_lawsuit/. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ Graft, Kris (2010-11-17). "UK-Based RuneScape Dev Jagex Wins Patent Infringement Lawsuit". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31597/UKBased_RuneScape_Dev_Jagex_Wins_Patent_Infringement_Lawsuit.php. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
