airtime

Airtime is chatting application that allows you to connect through Facebook and chat with friends.  Airtime launched on June 5, 2012 by Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning (Napster, Facebook).  Built on Facebook with a stunning $33.5 million in funding, users have described Airtime as Skype IM and Google hangouts all in one place.

If this is the case everyone has to wonder why after a star studded launch party, and few months on the web.  Airtime only has about 400 users a day and about 10,000 monthly active users.  Airtimes’s executives are dropping like flies, Shawn Fanning is no longer day to day at the company and the company has laid off several employees.  When asked how things were going Parker had this to say:

“Running a start-up is like eating glass. You just start to like the taste of your own blood”

Sean Parker who is known for being outspoken about the frustrations of Silicon Valley.

“Now is the most toxic time ever in Silicon Valley, Too many people start companies for the wrong reasons, They’re not passionate about their ideas and they just want Facebook to buy them out.”

You have to wonder what is in store for this company they face stiff competition in Skype (owned by Microsoft) and Google Chat (owned by Google obviously).  Skype has integrated your Facebook friend list into their product taking away from Airtime buz.  Not to mention Skype may be built into Windows very shortly.  Google talk is gaining ground as well you have to wonder what will Airtime do to grab and shake up the market.  I think if anyone can be innovative and shake up markets it’s Sean Parker.

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