The recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to stay home and eventually work from home. Bangladesh government and other organizations have been using Zoom and other available alternatives to continue work from home. It seems working from home and having online meetings becomes a new normal. In this context, the Bangladesh government has launched a web-based video conferencing platform ‘Boithok,’ to overcome the dependency on other international apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc. In this article, we have accumulated all the things you need to know about the Bangladeshi online meeting app Boithok.
Key Features of Boithok
It has a lot of similarities to other available apps in the market. However, the developers have tried to improve those similar features alongside adding some new features.
First of all, you don’t need to have an account to operate or arrange a meeting on Boithok. You will just need to visit the Boithok website or apps and create a new meeting on your own. However, you may need to add a password to secure the meeting and refrain unwanted people to join in. So, the lock-protected room ensures the maximum security of your data.
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Next, the video and audio quality are top-notch compared to the international competitors. It ensures the richness and clarity of the visuals and audio.
In-app messaging is available in the Boithok. It features unlimited messaging while the online meeting is going on. Besides, the participants can also exchange private messages during the meeting.
You don’t need to download any app for your computer, a desktop browser is good enough to create a meeting and continue the conversation. However, you may need to install apps to use on phones or tablets. The conference link or URL is small, which is easily shareable with others to get started.
During the meeting, participants can raise their hand by clicking the raise hand option if they want to participate or have any questions and after that user can click or tap on the lower the hand option.
Further, it comes with recording and sharing features. A host can record the meeting and others can share their screens too. However, you will need to have an account to record and download the recording from the Boithok server.
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How to use Boithok?
Using the Boithok is very simple as a piece of cake. To create a meeting from your computer, you will just need to visit https://vc.bcc.gov.bd/ and then type the Boithok name. After creating the meeting room you can share the link and invite others to join the room. As a participant, you will just need to click on the link provided by the host and join in, and set a name for yourself.
After that, you will be able to access all the features we have mentioned above. However, you will have to provide access to your microphone and camera to talk and share screen or video during the meeting.
How much is the Boithok video conferencing app?
Currently, it is free to use, and it should be free in the future too. However, currently, 60 participants can join the meeting at a time. The developers are working relentlessly to add more features and improve the app. Further, the app will have a paid version in the future, which will generate remittance for the country. But it will take time and the government is planning to introduce the app to the international level and arrange a cross-country governmental meeting via Boithok.
Boithok has already been released on April 24 and different ministries are currently using the app and it is also available to use for anyone.
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Boithok on iOS, Android, and Windows devices
Bangladeshi virtual meeting app Boithok is available on Android, iOS, and Windows platforms. You can visit the respective application stores such as Google Play, App Store, etc. to download Boithok on your device. Currently, the app size is 62MB for Android, 42.5MB for iOS, and 62MB for Windows PC.
However, the web version and the app versions have identical features, so you will find it easier to use from any device.
Who developed the Boithok?
Bangladesh government’s Department of Information and Communication Technology has developed the Boithok and it is maintained by the BNDA team. 10 developers have developed the Boithok software and 50-100 programmers will join the team in the future.
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Pros of Boithok App
Although it is similar to other online meeting applications, it has some good features that can make it unique from the international apps. The good thing about Boithok is that it uses the Bangladeshi data center, so the data will remain secure. Besides, hosting on Bangladeshi servers will overcome the dependency on international servers, which will ensure safety too. Another good option is that users can stream YouTube videos during the meeting.
Limitations of Boithok App
Boithok is testing its beta version, so there might be some bugs and UI issues. The initial launch has experienced several server crashes, which is not a major issue for a beta version. Nevertheless, other limitations may come up when mass people start using it.
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Needed permissions from the user
Whenever you install the app on your device, it will ask you to give access to some of your device’s applications such as calendar, camera, microphone, etc. The calendar permission will let the app read the calendar events and modify them according to upcoming Boithok meeting details. Cameras will allow the app to steam yourself and speak via microphone access.
Bottom Line
Bangladeshi video conferencing app Boithok can be a revolutionary app to represent the country in other countries by competing with giant tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Zoom, and more. As we have mentioned earlier different ministries have already adopted Boithok, which will certainly put an impact on the future of our online meeting.
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