Can now be used to face time friends on iOS and Android devices
Facebook has announced the introduction of video calling for mobile devices in its Messenger application. Users can now have face to face conversations with their friends via Messenger using Android and iOS devices.
Users can quickly start a video call from any conversation with just one tap. If they are messaging with someone and feel that words just are not enough, they can choose the video icon in the top right corner of the screen and start a video call from within an existing Messenger conversation.
Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls around the world. Video calling is expanding Messenger’s real time communication features, enabling the more than 600 million people who use Messenger every month to reach others wherever they are, from anywhere, Facebook claimed.
The fast, reliable service is now available for calls made from a mobile phone to another mobile phone, even if one person is on iOS and the other person is on an Android device.
Video calling in Messenger is launching now for people on iOS and Android in Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Laos, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, the UK, the US and Uruguay. It will be rolling out to other regions and locales over the coming months.
This is the latest feature released for Messenger, following the ability to send money to friends and the launch of Messenger Platform. In March Facebook announced mobile money in Messenger, which is currently rolling out over the US on Android, iOS, and desktop.
The next feature to be launched will be the introduction of Businesses on Messenger, which is coming soon. At a Facebook event in March, the company previewed Business on Messenger. Set to launch with partners, Businesses on Messenger is set to enhance communications and interactions between people and businesses. Facebook said at the time that with Businesses on Messenger, people can have rich and personal conversations with businesses. For example, after purchasing something from a website, people can choose to receive updates in Messenger and continue their conversation with the business in the app.
Once there, people will be able to receive relevant messages from the business including order confirmations and shipping status updates, and will be able to take basic actions like modifying, tracking or returning an order. People will also have the option to ask a business questions, make requests and get quick responses. This whole set of interactions and features are unified in a single, ongoing thread between the person and the business.
