Limited household gatherings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will make Christmas a slightly different family affair this year.
However, browser-based video meeting tool, Whereby, is making it easier for friends and families to connect around the world - for free.
Whereby’s unlimited service will be completely free for groups of up to 50 people between Thursday, December 17, 2020 and Friday, January 8, 2021.
'Whereby with Everyone' aims to unite friends and family who aren’t able to see each other in person this year by providing unlimited access to its ‘XL’ video meeting rooms, meaning people can stay connected with those that mean the most to them for as long as they like.
Whereby’s 'Free' plan normally lets people host up to four people in a room, however, during the holidays, everyone will be able to supersize their rooms at no charge through an in-room upgrade, allowing them to host the entire extended family in their living room.
Users can also personalise their rooms to celebrate the festive season with a variety of Christmas-themed backgrounds.
Whereby Co-Founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer, Ingrid Ødegaard, said: “This year, we know travel restrictions mean many people won’t be able to physically meet with their friends and family – but that doesn’t mean you can’t still connect with those who matter most.
“We’re delighted to do what we can to try to make this Christmas as normal as possible by giving families who can’t all gather in the same place the chance to celebrate virtually, without the need to download an app or worry about time limits and subscription fees.”
Whereby also urges users to try using the screen share function to re-enact family traditions, watch your favourite films together, share recipes or even prepare your favourite dish as a group.
To help with the seasonal celebrations, Whereby will run a series of free, virtual cook-alongs with chefs and home cooks from around the world, each sharing their favourite recipes, updates will be posted on the Whereby Instagram account.
Whereby has also created a guide for hosting the best virtual celebrations, this is available here.
To sign up for a free Whereby account and celebrate virtually with your loved ones this festive season, visit the website here.
