Zoom lifts 40-minute video call limit; users can enjoy unlimited group video calls during Christmas-New Year period

DUBLIN: Zoom offers the opportunity to enjoy group video calls indefinitely during Christmas and New Year. The video conferencing app confirmed that the facility will be available in Ireland from January 23 to January 2. It has announced that time limits will be waived, including on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Zoom also confirmed that it will again raise the deadline to chat with family and friends during Christmas between 3pm on the 23rd and 11am on the 26th and between December 30th and January 2nd for the New Year celebrations. The time limits would be lifted automatically, no special updates are required for this, the company said.

“COVID-19 has changed how we live, work and celebrate in 2020, and like everything else this year, the holiday season doesn’t look the same,” it said.

“As a token of appreciation to our users during an extraordinary time, we’re removing the 40-minute limit on free Zoom accounts for all meetings globally for several upcoming special occasions.”

During the lockdown, millions of people turned to the Zoom platform to work and study from home. Zoom grew into a popular app as many families and friends started using this video conferencing app.

However, Zoom was criticised in March, citing a number of security concerns. The conferencing app then suspended its programs for 90 days for development to protect security and privacy. Zoom was later launched with several updates and new features.

It also urged users to follow best security practices, including using meeting passcodes to secure calls and not sharing meeting IDs on social media or other public platforms.