Zoom Suspends New Free User Registrations in China

The coronavirus-fuelled lockdowns of millions of people globally have driven huge growth in use of platforms such as Zoom.

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 19 May 2020 19:08 IST
Highlights
  • Free users can continue to join meetings hosted by registered customers
  • Zoom is expanding its engineering workforce by about 60 percent
  • The coronavirus-led lockdowns have driven huge growth in Zoom user base

Zoom plans to expand its engineering workforce by about 60 percent

Photo Credit: Reuters

Video conferencing provider Zoom Video Communications said on Tuesday it was limiting new user registrations in mainland China to enterprise customers only.

Free users in mainland China can continue to join meetings hosted by registered customers, whereas new user registrations are available only for enterprise customers who sign up through authorised sales representatives, according to a statement from the company.

The coronavirus-fuelled lockdowns of millions of people globally have driven huge growth in use of platforms such as Zoom, as families and organisations use its software to connect.

Advertisement

 

Nikkei first reported of the development saying the restriction on Chinese individual accounts on the Zoom app was due to "regulatory requirements" in the country, and the company has come under scrutiny from both the US and China as trade tensions intensified.

Although Zoom has seen a surge in demand for its services it faced a backlash from cyber security experts and users alike over a number of privacy and security issues that caused it to pause new feature development for 90 days to address the concerns.

Advertisement

Zoom said last week it plans to open two new R&D locations in Phoenix and Pittsburgh over the next two years, expanding its engineering workforce by about 60 percent.

© Thomson Reuters 2020


Which is the bestselling Vivo smartphone in India? Why has Vivo not been making premium phones? We interviewed Vivo's director of brand strategy Nipun Marya to find out, and to talk about the company's strategy in India going forward. We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. These Smartphones Will Be Discounted During Flipkart Republic Day Sale
  2. OnePlus Freedom Sale Slashes Prices of Phones, Tablets, and More Products
  3. Vivo X200T Confirmed to Launch in India Soon: See Expected Specs
  4. iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air Will Go Sale at These Prices During Amazon's Sale
  5. These OnePlus, Samsung Phones Will Be on Sale During Amazon's Next Sale
  6. Here Are Some of the Best Smartphones With Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC
  7. NASA Confirms First Medical Evacuation in ISS's 25-Year History
  8. Vivo Y500i With a 7,200mAh Battery, 50-Megapixel Camera Launched
  1. ISRO’s PSLV Suffers Second Failure as Third-Stage Glitch Sends Rocket Off Course
  2. NASA Confirms First Medical Evacuation in ISS’s 25-Year History
  3. Space Forge Tests World’s First Commercial Semiconductor Factory in Space
  4. 83rd Golden Globe Awards Full List of Winners: Hamnet, The Pitt, Adolescence, and More
  5. Kirkkan OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch This Gripping Crime Investigation Drama Online?
  6. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu OTT Release Date Reportedly Leaked Online
  7. Forza Horizon 5 Is Said to Have Sold Over 5 Million Copies on PS5
  8. Realme Neo 8 Display Details Teased; TENAA Listing Reveals Key Specifications
  9. iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air Discounts Revealed Ahead of Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2026
  10. Google’s AI Overviews Giving Incorrect Medical Advice as OpenAI, Anthropic Push for Healthcare: Report
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.