Facebook Messenger for iPhone can now make phone calls

New feature lets US users forgo the phone to make calls.

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[fuzzzerd]

If its not on all platforms what's the point? It will be a niche just like facetime. Skype or Tango which are available on all platforms are where this is really at.

if I can't call all my friends, its a non-started for me.

 

[Deleted member 192806]

Facebook Messenger for iPhone can now make phone calls
New feature lets US users forgo the phone to make calls.

Forgoing the phone by running an app...on your phone? Brilliant!

 

[jefforange89]

If its not on all platforms what's the point? It will be a niche just like facetime. Skype or Tango which are available on all platforms are where this is really at.

if I can't call all my friends, its a non-started for me.

I'm sure they're working on an Android version too. They've just been gradually rolling it out instead of all at once (it actually launched in Canada only last month, as the article mentions).

 

[fellow human]

Just to be picky about the headline, it doesn't make phone calls, it makes voice calls. You can't call a phone number with it.

I use a VoIP service and data-only SIM on my iPhone and feel no need to add another voice service.

 

[Pjotr]

The feature has beenavailable in Skype, Vibe and many other apps for years. Great way to call free to friends. But telcos tend to block it over data connections. Interesting to see when people start noticing... One day blocking will be passe and people mostly use data plans and no voice calls or SMS.

 

[t_newt]

If its not on all platforms what's the point? It will be a niche just like facetime. Skype or Tango which are available on all platforms are where this is really at.

if I can't call all my friends, its a non-started for me.

I'm sure they're working on an Android version too. They've just been gradually rolling it out instead of all at once (it actually launched in Canada only last month, as the article mentions).

I think that was jefforange89's point. Sometimes, when you introduce a new application, you roll it out to a few places to test it out, then port it to more phones, etc.

But with this application, it gets value by being used by everyone. It is just a niche product otherwise. So people are going to try it out, find out they can't use it to connect to a lot of their friends, then delete it. Then Facebook will port it to Android, after people have already decided that it isn't a useful app.

 

[Bonobob]

Does this mean Facebook will be keeping a record of all voice messages along with the text messages they already archive?

 

[Elsie Hupp]

If its not on all platforms what's the point? It will be a niche just like facetime. Skype or Tango which are available on all platforms are where this is really at.

if I can't call all my friends, its a non-started for me.

Note that the feature is more like "Skype out", where the recipient is just a regular phone number. It's not like FaceTime or regular Skype because it doesn't require the recipient to be using a special app. The big difference between this and "Skype out" is that it's free.

 

[zyyn]

Does this mean Facebook will be keeping a record of all voice messages along with the text messages they already archive?

Sound files take up a lot of space compared to text. If they are doing that it probably means they're also working on some kind of speech analysis software for extracting information from it that could be used for marketing. It is certainly possible, but even then they wouldn't necessarily store it long term.

 

[Elsie Hupp]

The feature has beenavailable in Skype, Vibe and many other apps for years. Great way to call free to friends. But telcos tend to block it over data connections. Interesting to see when people start noticing... One day blocking will be passe and people mostly use data plans and no voice calls or SMS.

I don't think cell carriers in the US actually block VoIP services, per se. I don't think AT&T has technically blocked FaceTime over cellular; they got Apple to do it for them. Facebook didn't have to negotiate with the carriers here, just Apple. What's interesting is that Apple let it slide, rather than holding up approval indefinitely, like they did with Google Voice way back when.

 

[megaphat]

Looks like a great app but I think Facebook is going to have to be very careful where and who they roll it out to. Otherwise users might have a bad experience. For instance T-Mobile in Germany routinely blocks all VoIP calls/Internet telephony. This could harm Facebook's reputation.

 

[BigLan]

If its not on all platforms what's the point? It will be a niche just like facetime. Skype or Tango which are available on all platforms are where this is really at.

if I can't call all my friends, its a non-started for me.

Note that the feature is more like "Skype out", where the recipient is just a regular phone number. It's not like FaceTime or regular Skype because it doesn't require the recipient to be using a special app. The big difference between this and "Skype out" is that it's free.

Where are you seeing that you can call a regular phone number? From the article...

find the user you’d like to chat with, tap the ‘i’ button on their profile, and then tap the Free Call button. Calls use either Wi-Fi or data connections and the recipient should receive a push notification prompting them to accept the call. (Again, as long as those involved are iOS users within the US.)

Sounds like the recipient needs to be using the facebook app to be able to take a call.

 

[Al Luwahey]

boo. just not interested in google or facebook intercepting my calls, converting my voice to text, scanning it to 'improve my experience' and selling the data to the highest bidder.

 

[Al Luwahey]

Looks like a great app but I think Facebook is going to have to be very careful where and who they roll it out to. Otherwise users might have a bad experience. For instance T-Mobile in Germany routinely blocks all VoIP calls/Internet telephony. This could harm Facebook's reputation.

yes I agree. I hope they test this out on prisoners and in 3rd world countries before using it on americans. all code facebook runs should be peer reviewed and in the public domain, to improve the privacy reputation for Facebook.