Verizon is buying video conferencing platform BlueJeans as usage of the technology has exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just as competitors have also seen an uptick in usage, BlueJeans Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Krish Ramakrishnan told KCBS Radio the shelter-in-place is doing wonders for the company.
"Our service has gone through the roof, actually 300% over the course of just three weeks," Ramakrishnan said.
The $400 million acquisition moves Verizon into the video conferencing space as businesses creatively find ways to connect employees.
"I would say that this is going to become to new norm," Ramakrishnan said. "People have seen that working from home is actually easy. You actually can get work done."
BlueJeans will be built into Verizon's 5G offering.
Ramakrishnan said this puts the company in a better position compared to rival Zoom, which has been the subject of privacy and security concerns.
"BlueJeans caters to primarily business customers, mid-market and high-end enterprises," Ramakrishnan said. "Those customers require very high-quality video, very high-quality audio."
Ramakrishnan believes platforms like BlueJeans are now needed more than ever at home - and could ultimately change the way businesses conduct meetings.
