Russian video conferencing services using the example of the SaluteJazz platform
We continue the topic about products of Russian developers. Today I want to discuss video conferencing services, problems with foreign video conferencing in Russia and our analogues using the example of SaluteJazz.
Messengers, chat platforms and video conferencing services are included in the list of sanction exceptions according to General License No. 25D from the US Treasury. But gradually they too are leaving the Russian Federation. So we were left without Zoom and Google Meet, or rather, with the ability to use only the free version, or pay through gray schemes. There are no more direct payments from RF cards. Or maybe the free ones will disappear too. Therefore, it is already clear that we need to look for a local solution that meets the requirements of Russian legislation. I was interested in Sberbank's product, the SaluteJazz platform. In 2023, he became the winner of the TAdviser IT Prize in the “Video Conferencing with AI” category. This is a serious application, let's see what they offer us.
The main differences between the SaluteJazz platform and foreign analogues
SaluteJazz is an AI communications platform from SberDevices. It is included in the register of domestic software, supports the Russian operating systems Astra Linux and Alt Server and complies with the requirements of FSTEC and FSB, suitable for use in government organizations. And the stable quality of communication, unlimited meeting time even in the free version, a large number of participants and advanced AI technologies make it a full-fledged replacement for foreign analogues.
Advantages of the SberDevices solution:
● Suitable for individuals and legal entities. Even the free version has all the basic functions.
● No problem with payment. No intermediary companies or foreign accounts are needed. You can pay by card or by invoice.
● Stable work. The servers are located in Russia, which means that no external restrictions will affect the quality of communication.
● Instant support. At SaluteJazz it is 24/7, so in any time zone of the Russian Federation they should respond quickly.
● Special offers. For example, the SaluteJazz license has a 40% discount for educational and medical institutions.
How SaluteJazz differs from other Russian video conferencing services
Suitable for everything: you can call your grandmother, discuss your vacation with friends, arrange a business meeting, or hold a webinar. There are no time limits, including the free version – if the discussion goes on for a long time, there is no need to re-invite participants to join. Links to video calls are “eternal”: this is convenient if you conduct something regularly, for example, courses on Mondays. It is enough to send an invitation once, then participants will come again using the same link. In the free version, you don’t need to register: just enter your name and click “Create video meeting”, and then invite your audience using the generated link.
Features of the paid version
Paid versions are available for individuals (Basic tariff) and for companies (Business Plus). They provide expanded functionality and you can invite more participants. So, if up to 100 people can attend a free SaluteJazz meeting, in a paid meeting their number increases to 200, and in the beta version – up to 1000. In addition, you can put your own watermarks on the content, manage user actions and integrate the product into existing ones company systems. There is a plugin for Outlook: it allows you to schedule meetings directly in your work calendar. In the business version, you can configure data access rights through integration with Active Directory. It also has a corporate messenger: you can create public and private chats, search for the information you need, and also conduct a quick video conference directly from the “Chat” tab. Most AI functions are also available only in paid versions.
Separately, it is necessary to say about the SaluteJazz On-premise boxed product. This version is designed for deployment on a company's own servers, giving full control over data security. In it, the developer declares additional features: an increased class of data protection with encryption in accordance with GOST 34.13-2018, logo branding, integration with SIEM/DLP (systems for monitoring IT infrastructure and protecting corporate information from data leaks, unproductive use of working time and other incidents).
All versions of SaluteJazz support access from all devices. You can work in a mobile application, an Internet browser, or in separate programs. The On-premise and cloud versions provide a SIP gateway through which participants using Cisco, Polycom and Huawei devices in meeting rooms can connect to the meeting.
SaluteJazz Webinars for business and education
This is a special plan with more features than Zoom. In the paid version of SaluteJazz, the limit on the number of participants is 3,000 people, and in the beta version – 10,000. Even in the maximum Zoom license, conferences of only up to 1,000 people are supported.
You can invite up to 100 speakers and broadcast their speeches to external platforms: VKontakte, RuTube, YouTube. Speakers and viewers follow different links and have different access rights: the speaker and moderators manage the webinar, listeners can only comment in the chat and invite other participants. The video recording function is also available only to the organizer and there is no danger that someone will illegally copy the information and use it for personal purposes.
AI technologies
AI functions in SaluteJazz can be divided into two groups:
For comfort.
For work.
I included beauty and smart noise reduction in the first group. The developer promises that the speaker will look good and speak clearly in any circumstances. Both features are available in both free and paid versions.
The second contains AI functions that are only available in paid versions. This is a summary with a summary and main points (“Results of the meeting”) and a transcript of the speech by speaker. I found similar functionality only in MTS Link, if we take Russian video conferencing services, but it is 1.5 times more expensive than SaluteJazz: the minimum tariff is 12 thousand rubles. per year per user, and SaluteJazz has 8 thousand rubles. on “Basic”.
How do participants interact?
The stated capabilities of SaluteJazz are enough to hold a webinar for 3,000 people, organize a meeting of managers and partners, or arrange a virtual corporate event with the effect of personal presence, in which employees working from home or in other branches can participate.
For example, the platform offers session rooms for training (only in paid versions). You can give a lecture “for everyone”, then practice skills in groups and return to the main hall. The speaker can conduct surveys directly during the speech, assess how much the audience understood the proposed topic, and, if necessary, make changes to the lecture plan.
To increase audience involvement, SaluteJazz has a “Multistream” mode: the speaker can simultaneously show the screen, for example, with a presentation or work programs, and himself. Viewers perceive information more easily if they see a real person. There are also several modes for screen sharing:
● browser tab only;
● window only;
● the entire screen.
All versions of SaluteJazz have chat. You can exchange comments, discuss the talk, and send links without interrupting the speaker. There are also Emoji, and if you communicate through SberPortal, SberBox Top or a TV with Salute and camera, you can send them with gestures.
The paid versions have an interesting feature – meetings in virtual reality using SaluteJazz XR. The maximum number of participants in the 3D space is up to 50 people.
What users say
For example, on Google Playmarket, the SaluteJazz application has a high rating: 4.8 points, with more than 4000 reviews. The advantages include a simple interface, regular updates, and the absence of lags and advertising. There are also negative reviews, often related to problems in installing and configuring the application, but the developer promptly responds and offers help in troubleshooting the problems. The rating on other resources with reviews is also high: on IRecommend – 4.9, and the SaluteJazz video conferencing service is recommended by both individuals and representatives of organizations.
Cases
Since the fall of 2022, SaluteJazz has been using the Skolkovo innovation center for communication within the team and with external partners. Lomonosov Moscow State University also chooses this service for a hybrid format of training, meetings and events. Edutoria Academy uses SaluteJazz Webinars to organize a high-quality online learning process from anywhere in the country.
I tested the free version through a browser and was pleased. The connection is clear, connection takes place in seconds, the link is formed immediately, up to 100 people and unlimited time, I think it’s very cool. I haven’t tested the AI functions, but judging by the reviews, everything works. I consider it a truly worthwhile replacement for foreign videoconferencing – and even a step forward compared to them. And taking into account round-the-clock technical support and local servers, we get a reliable product at a price of 666 rubles. per month.
