Facebook Messenger Gets Cross Platform Video Calling

Today Facebook announces the launch of video calling feature to its Messenger app for Android and iOS. A new video icon at the top of conversation threads will initiate a call, allowing participants to communicate across platforms over Wi-Fi or LTE connections.

This feature is cross-platform, so those who use iPhone/iPad can call their friends on Android devices as long as they have the latest version of Facebook Messenger. It also puts Facebook in competition against products like Apple’s FaceTime and Microsoft’s Skype.

https://vimeo.com/125994315

To place a video call you have to select a friend to chat with prior to launching the call. Once the other party has accepted the call, users have the ability to switch between the front-facing and rear cameras. Facebook also introduces video call to the Web-based version of Messenger and users can use the video calling feature, assuming a webcam, and microphone is connected to the computer.

The feature is available for those in Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Laos, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, the UK, the US and Uruguay. Facebook management plans to roll out the new feature to additional regions around the world in the near future.

Source: Facebook NewsRoom