Facebook users are now able to have face to face conversations using the Messenger mobile app to which Facebook has added video calling. You can start a video call by tapping on the video icon on the screen in any conversation.
The video and sound quality is superior to video calls done using Facebook itself. Although Messenger does not offer as much functionality as Skype does, it is an update with potential. Users can at the same time create and manage chats.
Messenger is used by 600 million people around the world. However the vide calling tool is not available everywhere yet. According to engineering manager Param Reddy and head of product for Messenger, Stan Chudnovsky the video calling feature is available for Android and iOS in Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, UK, Croatia, Lithuania, Laos, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Nigeria, Oman, Mexico and Uruguay.
Different from Apple FaceTime, Messenger allows users to make video calls to all of their users who have the app installed on their device, irrespective of the fact that one user uses Android and the other uses iOS.
Param Reddy said in blog post that Messenger already enables people to make voice calls with family and friends all around the world. According to him video calling will extend Messenger’s features regarding real-time communication. More than 600 million monthly active users of Messenger will be able to reach other anywhere wherever they are, he added.
In March Facebook made available the service of sending money to friends. The money transfer system uses the users’ bank debit cards and depending on the bank used it can last up to three days for the money to be sent. After the introduction of this system video calling is the latest tool released for Messenger. The app is available for users in the UK and also in most of Europe and US. According to the company in the following moths the video calling feature will be rolled out to other areas too.
Last week Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, declared that messaging is an essential priority for the company. Everything is designed so as people can talk to each other about their lives and now Facebook made it possible for this to occur face to face. Recently Facebook has also announced Business on Messenger which allows business to connect with customers using Messenger and its Messenger Platform which enables third-party apps to integrate with Messenger.
Image Source: Cyprian Francis
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