Proton Unveils Secure Video Conferencing with Proton Meet

The Swiss technology company Proton, known for its privacy-focused internet services, has announced the launch of a new offering: Proton Meet. This service is designed to compete directly with established platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.

Proton is steadily building a comprehensive suite of tools aimed at privacy-conscious users. Meet joins existing core services such as Proton Mail, Calendar, VPN, Drive, and its password manager.

Prioritizing Security and Anonymity in Video Calls

True to the company's ethos, Proton Meet features end-to-end encryption across all communications. However, Proton has implemented specific measures to enhance security and anonymity further.

A key feature is the ability for users to join a call without needing a Proton account. This accessibility aims to encourage adoption even among users who do not use other Proton services.

Proton explicitly states that Meet can be used anonymously, and the service maintains no logs of meetings. Furthermore, hosting a meeting does not require the host to possess a Proton account.

Meeting Capacity and Pricing Tiers

For free, anonymous use, visitors to the Proton Meet site can initiate calls with up to four participants. Proton account holders can host larger meetings, supporting up to 50 participants for a duration of one hour.

For users requiring more extensive capabilities, Proton is offering a dedicated Meet Professional plan priced at $8 per month.

The New Proton Workspace Rebrand

With the integration of Meet, Proton is rebranding its collection of services under the umbrella name Proton Workspace. This move positions the company to offer functionality comparable to major providers like Google.

Proton Drive has recently seen significant updates, now offering collaborative document and spreadsheet features, mirroring capabilities found in Google Workspace.

Subscription Bundles and Business Focus

Beyond the standalone Meet Professional option, Proton is offering bundled Workspace subscriptions. Workplace Standard is available for $13 or $15 per month, which includes the core tools and 500GB of storage by default.

A Premium plan is also available, adding increased storage capacity, access to the Lumo chatbot, and expanded participant limits for Meet, among other enhancements.

Proton confirms it will maintain its existing pricing structures, including the Mail-only option at $36 annually and various bundles for individuals, couples, or families.

The introduction of Meet signals Proton's clear intention to expand its footprint within the business client sector. The company currently serves approximately 100,000 enterprise customers, and adding a robust video conferencing tool is expected to aid in attracting more corporate clients alongside individual users.