| Vive | |
| Logo Size: | 180px |
| Logo Caption: | Vive logo |
| Author: | Tripod Technology GmbH |
| Released: | June 2014 |
| Latest Release Version: | 3.0.4 |
| Operating System: | iOS 7 or later |
| Platform: | iOS |
| Discontinued: | yes |
Vive is a members-only mobile video chat community. The company has offices in San Francisco, Berlin and Hannover.[1] It is free to use.
Vive was founded in Hannover by Arnd Aschentrup, Matthias Kleinmann and Tobias Dickmeis.[2] All three had been involved in similar, formative projects prior to the creation of the app. Aschentrup worked with a number of companies in Germany's tech scene, co-founding Cyoshi Mobile GmbH with Dickmeis and later becoming Global COO of Mobile Streams.[3]
The company entered beta-phase in June 2014[4] and launched its iOS app in September of the same year. In October 2014 an iPad version of Vive was released, the same month during which the company successfully secured a 1.5 million funding round from prominent European investors.[5] Among them were Atlantic Internet GmbH, Hannover Beteiligungs Fond (HBF) and Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Niedersachen (MBG).[6]
The app allows members to search for people within their locality as well as around the world. Upon logging into the app, members are presented with a list of other users, ranked on the basis of common interests and last log-in.[7] The app aims to provide a platform for authentic, emotional and spontaneous connection between its members.[8] It is reminiscent of the video-chatting websites Airtime and Chatroulette.[9] Potential members are asked how they would like to use Vive and what they can share with the community. A team of moderators then evaluate applicants based on their answers.[10]
Vive users were able to connect in Facebook Spaces[11] until Spaces was replaced by Facebook Horizon.