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Adam Wilcox posts on www.xxxwasteland.wordpress.com – Since its inception in 1999, CamContacts has established a reputation as one of the top video chat networks on the Web with unique features such as interactive gaming and pay-per-view billing. The brand was nominated for XBIZ’ Best Live Video Chat Company in 2011 and this year received its first Adult Video News Award nomination in the Best Live Chat Website category.
CamContacts Special Projects Manager Ramon Azzopardi kindly granted XXX Wasteland a recent interview to discuss the early years of the company, the recent launch of CamContacts’ StripMeister Challenge interactive card game and more.
You can follow CamContacts on Twitter under the handle @CamContacts.
(Special thanks to David Witcomb of CamContacts)
Q: For those who may be unfamiliar with CamContacts, can you tell us about the website and discuss its origins?
Yes, sure. CamContacts was founded in 1999 by a group of users (Well, let’s think of them as the Big Bang Theory TV series kind of guys!) who wanted to radically improve the experience of video chats. The vision was to focus on the two main core aspects of the business at that time, i.e., quality of product with innovative features for the viewers, plus providing the necessary tools to chat hosts for their daily needs. Since then, we never looked back. Today, we find ourselves with chat hosts from virtually every country on the planet – 173 countries and counting!
At that time, there was no specific off-the-shelf product, so everything actually had to be created from scratch. This was definitely the fun part for the boys. Having succeeded in the creation of their vision, CamContacts, via our custom proprietary video streaming platform, has to date handled over 100 million hours of live interactive streaming video, including direct cam-to-cam experiences.
CamContacts has grown over the last 11 years into one of the premiere companies in video chat worldwide. The brand has expanded its reach with country-specific dedicated sites, provides multiple product offerings through a network of various market niches, has an aggressive white label program and the must have affiliate/webmaster program CamSense.
Q: Is CamContacts essentially an adult industry-based service or does the site focus largely on other sectors as well?
Obviously, we do work in the adult sector, but that’s not to say we don’t focus on areas such as just making friends, and forming long-term relationships. There is something for everyone.
When one enters the site, you are not hit with the usual in-your-face nude adult images, and this is for a reason. CamContacts is primarily an adult facilitator – leaving the choice of adult or non-adult video chat in the viewer’s hands. What I mean by this is that we provide a communication platform between viewers and the self-employed chat hosts that are registered under different categories. What route one decides to follow is up to them. One may be surprised to hear that through our popular non-adult categories – Make New Friends and Long-Term Marriage – we have a number of real-life engagements and weddings under our belt!
Q: What are some of the unique features offered by CamContacts?
Having our own proprietary software has definitely helped in our long-term strategy of keeping our market share through innovation. At the end of the day, that was the reason why we started in the first place, and what keeps our interest in the field. A few of our unique features are:
Pay-Per-View Billing. This was the first unique feature that placed us as market trendsetters within the cam industry. The boys were fed up of experiencing hidden terms and conditions online, monthly fees, surprise deductions from bank accounts, and paying for services that never really made any sense. So, we decided to take charge and create a totally transparent billing methodology for the viewer. In short, we created and built a unique payment system that unmistakably displays the rate of the chat hosts versus the number of minutes consumed right after the video session is terminated, and deducted straight away from one’s account. This assisted in increasing the trust of our viewers, and gave us the reputation that with CamContacts you only pay for what you consume.
Smartphones. CamContacts has been in mobile space since 2003. We were the first to use the mobile medium for our product, initially launching our java-based mobile platform in 2003.We also took the decision to step aside from developing WAP, and be the first to market live adult video chat on iPhone, iPad and Android-enabled devices. Having accomplished this, we now focus on raising the usability standard with unique User Interface, Secure Payment, and all without the need to download an app! Trying to describe this product is unjust, as one needs to try it to experience its potential and uniqueness. Hit www.camcontacts.com from any device, anytime, anywhere!
Interactive gaming. Involving viewers and chat hosts has always been our unique signature style. Every year, we grab our best 5 designers and let their imagination run wild to come up with a number of themes to create events for the year, including an interactive game attached to each theme. We then choose the most stunning visual designs that include our best 10 chat hosts. Wrapping these three elements together and throwing in a huge prize pot creates a unique, killer event. Today, both viewers and chat hosts eagerly await the events that we run. Both win great prizes while truly enjoying themselves and the challenge of the only interactive games in the cam industry. A few of our past interactive games include Pirates of Pleasure Island, Into the Future, Sweet Temptations, Lover’s Masquerade Ball, Sirens of the Sea, Bikini Beach Break, and A Sizzling Hot Christmas. Who knows what’s next?
Strip HiLo. Our unique one-to-one live card game between chat hosts and viewers. Integrated within the live video stream, the game allows each side to guess if the next card chosen will be higher or lower. If the viewer wins, the chat host has to remove the selected item of clothing. Due to its huge success, we launched the unique site www.striphilo.com with StripMeister Challenge running every month (http://www.striphilo.com/stripmeister.html).
Q: After over 11 years in business, what business model does CamContacts strive to follow and which standards to you consider most important in regard to the day-to-day operations of the website?
I may have to let the truth ruin a good story here! There is no trade secret or best practice. Each business is unique, and every day it cries just like a baby to be noticed. What I mean by this is that the business is forever changing its needs and demands, and it requires your full attention. However, the constant elements that fuel our business model are the excitement of working in this industry and the ability to create innovative and profitable business elements.
Finally, let’s be honest: It takes years to build a reputation. Well, in our case, keeping a transparent and honest business model for both chat hosts and viewers as valued customers has taken us this far!
When it comes to integrity, we strive to ensure that chat hosts on the site are treated with the highest respect. They, essentially, are the business and without them we would have not lasted 11 years in the game. We also believe that every worker deserves to be paid, hence why we don’t ask the self-employed chat hosts to do a certain number of hours per week with free video chats.
Equally, the viewer is clearly a very important aspect of this business model. That’s why we have a world class Customer Service team that takes care of any viewer concern immediately.
Q: CamContacts acquired its first Adult Video News Award nomination this year in the Best Live Chat Website category. What other accolades and recognition has the company received from the adult entertainment world?
You know, this is quite an interesting question. CamContacts received an XBIZ nomination for Best Live Video Chat Company in 2011, but little else. We’ve never craved huge industry recognition as a company because all we want to do is focus on giving the best viewer and chat host experience possible. That’s not to say we don’t welcome recognition – we do. I guess we haven’t spent enough advertising bucks over the years … hmm!
Q: What can CamContacts customers expect from the site that buyers may not receive from other chat pages?
Simply unique product approaches like interactive games for both viewer and chat host alike, regular events such as the recent Sweet Temptations Valentine’s Day event and respect for the people who make CamContacts.The experience of the journey during and after the session is unique! That’s why our viewers never leave.
CamContacts recently introduced the StripMeister Challenge as part of its real-time card game, Strip HiLo. Can you tell us first about Strip HiLo itself and then discuss the unique StripMeister concept?
Strip HiLo is a unique product. No one else has it in this sector! We wanted to bring back the interactivity aspect to live cams by introducing a challenge between the viewer and chat host. I think we succeeded admirably with Strip HiLo. Always popular, always bringing home the bacon, we’ve enhanced it even further with the StripMeister Challenge.
It’s the tried and trusted method of adding a competitive challenge within a game for the viewers with the carrot of extra credits to spend. I’m sure most men would like to hold the crown of being the StripMeister for one month, and that is what drives it: Competition. Plus, you can play it anywhere as it’s available on all Smartphones and Tablets. Just by pointing your browser at striphilo.com/stripmeister you can play “Anyplace, Anywhere, Any device.” Just how we like it!
Quick trade secret: In 2012, we are giving our viewers what they have been asking for … yes, more games coming your way!
Q: What has the feedback been from Strip HiLo customers thus far, particularly those who have participated in the StripMeister challenge game?
We’ve had some really, really encouraging feedback to the StripMeister Challenge. It seems that the competitive element has really fired our viewer’s imagination. We’re seeing a massive rise in participation – people really do want to be at the top of the leader board. On mobile, we’re seeing an almost 10% uplift over normal interaction from desktop PCs. I mean, that’s huge already!
Q: Are there any current or upcoming CamContacts-related projects you would like to mention?
Ahhh, well … yes, there are lots, but I’m sworn to secrecy! What I can say is that new projects are not only aimed at viewers, but also chat hosts. Oh, both of them are going to love it!
Q: In closing, is there anything you wish to say to readers?
I love having the last word! If your readers have never tried out CamContacts, Strip Hilo, or taken part in the StripMeister Challenge, then they should do so. If they are at home, I recommend the iPad. If they don’t have one, borrow one and clear that history before returning it! Otherwise, it’s always great to experience live video chat over a Smartphone – specifically during working hours – lifting the mood and showing off with your colleagues. As for me, it’s time to go back to welcoming all our new chat hosts … oh, I meant work!
Visit CamContacts from your desktop PC or mobile device to try live adult video chat for yourself – www.camcontacts.com.
For more information about the brand, please visit: http://www.camcontacts.com/pressandmedia.html.
To sign-up as a Chat host visit: http://www.camcontacts.com/chathost/newchathostreg.html.