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| Paltalk | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developed by | AVM Software |
| Latest release | 9.2 Build 236 / December 19, 2007 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.paltalk.com |
Paltalk is an internet chat service for text, voice and video chatting. The Paltalk Messenger program is in a free, banner-supported format as well as an ad-free version that requires users to subscribe. Paltalk is only available to users of Microsoft Windows. The program now identifies itself as PaltalkScene, a change that was made in September 2007.Paltalk Introduces PaltalkScene
The company itself is a privately held New York based company founded in 1998. It is run by President and COO, Joel Smernoff. Paltalk claims 4 million users worldwide,Instant messaging on steroids making it the largest voice and video chat community on the World Wide Web.LateNET with Ray Ellin It also owns and operates HearMe, a video and voice-enabled web conferencing service that allows users to conduct group meetings.Paltalk Acquires Certain Assets Of HearMe. Paltalk became popular after Firetalk, an earlier voice/music chat program, became unable to maintain operation due to a lack of adequate funding.
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The service provides access to several thousand video-enabled chat rooms in which users can interact one-on-one or with large groups of people simultaneously. Additionally, Paltalk doubles as a conventional instant messaging service, allowing users to interact via Yahoo!, ICQ, and AIM/AOL messengers with a single buddy list.
Paltalk users can find and meet each other via Paltalk People, a social networking site. The site allows users to create and post their own personalized profile displaying photos and listing hobbies, interests etc. Users can then browse or search the database for keywords and view any profile that matches their query.
Categorized chat rooms are also offered, with the most popular being finance, religion, distance learning, politics, culture and music chat rooms where people play and/or sing songs. The chat rooms have a queue system which allows users to "raise their hand" and wait in line for their turn. Users have the ability to create and moderate their own chat rooms, however Paltalk employs more than 650 trained administrators[citation needed] to ensure that discussions are appropriate and do not violate Paltalk terms of service.
Paltalk only will operate on a System above Windows 2000. However, people who run Windows 95 through Windows ME can still download the supported Paltalk 8.5 Build 149. A Mac OS version is planned.
Paltalk was once criticized for allegedly installing the MySearch toolbar from MyWay without the users knowledgehttp://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/paltalk.com, however these claims were unfounded. The installation occurred due to users not unticking the toolbar inside the advanced section when installing. MySearch toolbar was usually installed unbeknownst to the user due to this. PalTalk now offers Google toolbar, as well as Google Desktop, both of which can be deselected by the user before installation.
Paltalk produces a number of original programs for its PaltalkScene platform including News Talk Online, Hollywood Now with Joanne Colan, LateNet with Ray Ellin, and MusicScene. The hosted shows feature notable celebrities, politicians, musicians and entertainers that are able to interact live with the viewers through video chat. Guests have included Stephen King, Slash, JoJo, Lonestar, Hank Azaria and casts of popular television shows and movies. Paltalk’s original programs are considered by many as examples of socialcasting.
Paltalk has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, The Dallas Morning News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Miami Herald, The Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Post, the British Broadcasting Corporation and CNET among others[citation needed].
As well as coverage by mainstream media, the service is used by the Opie & Anthony and Ron & Fez radio shows on XM Satellite Radio. The shows have cameras set up in the studio and often talk about it on the show.IM on Steroids With Audio And Video The company has also received publicity for hosting live chats with numerous celebrities and politicians including Reverend Jesse Jackson, Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky hosted by The People Speak Radio Show, Dan Burstein, and family therapist Kim West a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”.
The company came under fire from the British press in 2007, after a Shropshire man was urged by users to commit suicide live on his webcam. Kevin Whitrick, 42, from Wellington, Shropshire, was in an insult chat room with up to 60 other users, only one of which called the police after witnessing the hanging. Internet user Carol Vickers called the police after watching Mr Whitrick hang himself with an electrical cord, the others believing that Mr Whitrick was "playing a prank".
Mr Whitrick\'s suicide is believed to be the UK\'s first suicide transmitted live to an audience. His ex-wife said he had been in a serious car crash in July 2006 and had never fully recovered.
The coroner called for the banning of "insult chatrooms". An insult chatroom is a chatroom where participants exchange insults with others within the room.Chatroom warning after web death
HearMe, acquired by Paltalk in 2001, and re-launched as a product in 2007, provides desktop voice and video conferencing in a scalable manner, allowing up to 2,000 simultaneous participants in each meeting “room.”
Its capabilities include built-in VoIP, Desktop Sharing and Video
HearMe features:
Web Based Meeting Rooms
Application/Desktop Sharing
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia
