Web messaging services company Userplane has been acquired by AOL, it was was announced this morning. This company powers the interactive features (chat, video chat, video profiles, etc.) on most online dating and many social networking sites.
Terms remain undisclosed, but there are rumors that this was a “very large deal”. Founded in LA in 2001, Userplane uses Flash and Ajax to offer video, audio and text chat in the browser, in single or multiple chat rooms. Those video and audio chats can be recorded using the company’s Webrecorder application. Its target audience has been social networking and dating sites but it’s technology has been deployed across 100,000 sites in 25 countries. Big customers have included Friendster, Date.com and Red Bull. Investor Jeff Clavier reports that the ad-supported version of Userplane recently broke the billion monthly ad impressions and has further discussion on the history of the company and this deal.
Userplane says that it hopes to work with a system of federated identity leveraging the AIM brand and intends to speed the pace of its innovation post-acquisition. I just spoke with Mike Jones, Userplane CEO, and he told me that one of the first ways the partnership will take shape is that users registered with Userplane client sites (like Tagged) will be able to be contacted via AIM by other site users even when they themselves are not on the original site. Extending presence through AIM, off-site and thus building a greater sense of community to users of Userplane supporing sites. Makes sense, but doesn’t address what AOL will do with Userplane.
Now that nearly everything is free at AOL, a compelling user experience could be key to maintaining the kinds of audiences advertisers will pay for. Recordable multi-room video chat could be one solid way to bring users in to AOL properties.
A very early TechCrunch profile of Userplane is here.
Congratulations to the userplane team. These guys are an amazing bunch. I’ve used their products in the past, and it was the number one requested feature.
-JLB
It is always nice to see a company work hard, put togethor a great product and be compensated for their hard work. Congratulations.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet Michael (of userplane), great guy. Congrats!!!!
Great job guys! congrats!
Most of the web 2.0 acquisitions make me think “Why the Hell did they buy that crap?” But this is a great move by AOL and a deserved achievement for UP.
Way to go Nick! Congrats to Mike and Nate as well!
Thanks for all the nice comments - we have had a great time building the business and are eager to continue its growth!
Congrats to the UserPlane team.
Yea BIG congrats to the Userplane team - we’ve been using their services for a couple of years now. I definitely recommend them to anyone seeking a robust, easy to install client for their online community. Aside from a good product I think that they separate themselves from the pack by offering clients very good customer support. Looking forward to seeing this acquisition lead to bigger and better products…
I wish I could say congrats to Userplane. It’s a fantastic service and its now in the hands of the great idea killers. Sorry guys. Invest your $ wisely.
Met Mike earlier this year. Great guy.. Congratulations !!! I hope we could still be able to use the products on third party sites after the acquisition.
Mike is an awesome guy and this was well deserved. Great Job!
I still use userplane and like it but I liked it better before AOL bought it. I never liked AOL and still don’t. Now that AOL bought the chat I notice more erriors. Many more erriors. For instant the one problem I had was I had to reactivate the chat every two days for more then two weeks. Another one is the disconnections that happen once or more a week. I bet if userplane was still owned by userplane it would be a better chat.