April 2018 Summaries

Agora.io is sponsoring the 2018 AngelHack Global Hackathon Series, where developers are invited to participate in the Agora RTC App Challenge. Participants can create an app or website using the Agora real-time communications (RTC) platform and showcase innovative uses of RTC technology. The winning team at each participating city will receive a $1000 cash prize and a chance to win the "Agora Developer of the Year" award, including a trip to Beijing in September 2018. Agora's DevReal team will be present at various cities to help developers get started with their projects. The company is looking for innovative, imaginative, and integrated solutions from participants.

Agora introduces a new feature that enables companies to insert external video streams into live broadcasts, allowing for interactive experiences with audiences. This service opens up opportunities for hosts to engage viewers during live sports streaming or other events by inviting them to share thoughts and opinions. Developers may face technical challenges when implementing live streams into live broadcasts, but Agora's feature aims to address these issues.

The internet has revolutionized communication, including voice calling through apps like WhatsApp and Skype. Despite this prevalence, live voice chat functionality is underutilized in mobile gaming, especially in the United States. However, Asia is at the forefront of mobile gaming with native voice chat being a key feature across popular games from companies like Tencent and Xiaomi. The rise of mobile gaming in the US will likely lead to increased adoption of in-game voice chat as players seek collaborative, community-driven social experiences through their smartphones. This shift is beneficial for both gamers and game developers, as native voice chat boosts engagement and player retention.