After testing the feature in Canada, Facebook has introduced a free VoIP calling system through their iPhone Messages app. Users can open a message with a friend, tap on a phone symbol and chat away, for no extra charge, over Wi-Fi and cell data.
This is the first time phone access will be available to millions of Facebook users — and another incentive to snap up the company' Messenger app. It's important to note that you don't have to know someone's number to call them, and that you can make a call to anyone with the system in place. The service incurs some charge for data usage when enacted over a 3G or 4G connection, but it is completely gratis when a Wi-Fi connection is in place.
Although at first blush this seems to be the first (and only) productive output from the year-long partnership between Skype and Facebook, this is actually an independent project. Skype and other competitors such as GoogleVoice, Vonage and Viber still offer their services. Still, if Facebook is successful, this product could produce one of the biggest VoIP networks on the planet.
Lauren Hockenson is a tech reporter and 8-bit enthusiast who dreams of being a wizard. She can be found on MyIGN at lhockenson or on Twitter at @lhockenson.
Source : ign[dot]com
No comments:
Post a Comment