Around vs Bulutfon

Around was a video calling app designed for teams that collaborate in short, frequent sessions rather than long scheduled meetings. Instead of a full-screen grid, participants appeared as small floating heads on top of whatever app you were working in, so a call could run alongside a design file, code editor or whiteboard. Miro acquired Around in 2022, and the standalone Around app was shut down on March 31, 2025.

The experience centered on audio quality and low friction: AI noise and echo cancellation let people join from open offices or cafés without headsets, and auto-framing kept faces centered in the bubbles. Calls started from shareable room links, several people could share screens at the same time, and reactions and chat covered quick feedback. After the acquisition Around was offered free, and before the shutdown Miro moved its ideas into Video Calls inside Miro boards, which keep an Around-like floating mode and echo prevention.

Today Around is relevant mainly as a reference point: teams that relied on it need a replacement, and recordings could only be downloaded before the closure date. Miro users get the closest experience in Miro Video Calls; Tuple targets pair programming specifically; Slack huddles cover lightweight audio for teams already in Slack; and Zoom and Google Meet remain the default for scheduled meetings. Do not plan new work around the Around app, since it is no longer available for sign-up or use.

Bulutfon is a Turkish cloud phone system, often called a virtual PBX or bulut santral, built for small and mid-sized businesses in Turkey. Instead of buying and maintaining switchboard hardware in the office, companies get their phone numbers, call routing and reporting as a subscription service that works over the internet on desk phones, computers and mobile phones.

Businesses can use local geographic numbers and 0850 numbers, set up IVR menus that greet callers and route them to the right department, create call queues and ring groups, record calls, and receive voicemail by email. Employees answer calls from desktop and mobile softphone apps or IP desk phones, so remote and field teams stay on the same number. A web panel shows call reports, missed calls and agent performance, and integrations with CRM and help desk tools display caller details and log calls automatically, with an API for custom connections. Bulutfon operates under authorization from Turkey's telecom regulator (BTK) and is priced in Turkish lira per user or package.

Bulutfon fits Turkish SMBs, e-commerce companies, clinics, agencies and support teams that want a professional phone setup quickly and without hardware. Call recordings contain personal data, so businesses should handle them in line with KVKK. Local competitors such as Verimor and Netgsm offer similar cloud PBX services, while international VoIP tools like Aircall and Dialpad have richer integrations but weaker support for Turkish numbers, local billing and regulation.