Facebook Messenger App Updated With Voice Messages, Testing VoIP Calling in Canada

MacRumors · Jan 3, 2013, 04:00 PM

Facebook will update its Facebook Messenger app later today, adding two significant new voice-related abilities, reports The Next Web. The first will allow Facebook users to record a voice message to send to friends in addition to the standard text and photo messages.

The second is potentially more significant -- though is currently in limited beta testing for Canadian iOS users only. Facebook users will now have the option to make a VoIP phone call from one user to another.

Quote:

Facebook has also said it will also begin the beta testing of a new VoIP calling feature within its iOS Messenger app, allowing users to establish a peer-to-peer connection and make calls without making a dent in their call allowance (although it will use existing data plans).

The only drawback is that voice calls (messages are available to all) will be available to Canadian users of the iOS Messenger app at launch.

To use the service, Canadian users will be able to log into their Messenger app, open a conversation with the person they want to call, hit the 'i' button in the top-right corner and selecting 'Free Call.' To send and receive calls, users will need to have the latest version of the app that is available today.

Facebook's efforts create a calling system that can potentially reach its more than 1 billion users, providing a massive competition to other VoIP services like Skype.

Facebook Messenger for the iPhone is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

A previous version of this article said it was the Facebook iOS app that was updated. It is the standalone Facebook Messenger app that gained the new voice features.

Article Link: Facebook Messenger App Updated With Voice Messages, Testing VoIP Calling in Canada

ajvizzgamer101 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:03 PM

OMG, Facebook Phone is coming! FB Stock is going to go through the roof.

GekkePrutser · Jan 3, 2013, 04:05 PM

Sounds like a cool addition (and the opportunity for Facebook to monitor even more of our lives, not sure if I like that

). I'm not in Canada but I probably wouldn't use it much (just like I don't use Facetime even though it's free).

But I never really understood why they have so many different apps, Facebook itself, messenger, photos and pages. You can do everything inside the main app as well and it's much handier because you don't have to switch all the time.

abz1981 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:06 PM

Why only Canada? Seems to be Facebook is copying bbm voice.

trekkie604 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:06 PM

Over the cell network or wifi only I wonder...?

Sony311 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:07 PM

And how much Data does it take per second on a conversation I wonder?

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkie604

Over the cell network or wifi only I wonder...?

----------

Yay for Canada! Beta testers unite!

Quote:

Originally Posted by abz1981

Why only Canada? Seems to be Facebook is copying bbm voice.

charlieegan3 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkie604

Over the cell network or wifi only I wonder...?

Nice way to boost your data bill for sure.

baryon · Jan 3, 2013, 04:08 PM

Will this be compatible with desktop Facebook? They're not going to reach 1 billion users if they only provide their feature for mobile users.

Northgrove · Jan 3, 2013, 04:10 PM

Wow, I can't even imagine how much processing power and bandwidth that would be required at the Facebook data centers to handle a billion voice calls, if this would roll out worldwide some day.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by baryon

How come this isn't compatible with desktop Facebook? They're not going to reach 1 billion users if they only provide their feature for mobile users.

It's possible it's intentional to reduce coverage while they're trialling the service and infrastructure. A scaling / stress test perhaps?

trekkie604 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieegan3

Nice way to boost your data bill for sure.

Well it's use the 6GB data bucket or get dinged for inter-country long-distance by the Telco. Even calling within my home province of British Columbia, we get charged long distance...

HMI · Jan 3, 2013, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abz1981

Why only Canada? Seems to be Facebook is copying bbm voice.

Canada = North America - (Mexico + (AT&T + Verizon + Sprint + T-MobileUSA))

ShiftyPig · Jan 3, 2013, 04:14 PM

So I can use my phone as a phone? Hmm... this changes everything.

///M5 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:16 PM

Great. Facebook will now know how my voice sounds like. They will be able to sell this piece of information somehow.

longofest · Jan 3, 2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M5

Great. Facebook will now know how my voice sounds like. They will be able to sell this piece of information somehow.

Exactly. So, Facebook makes its money off of owning your data, knowing your habits, and then selling all of that information to advertisers and data collection firms it partners with.

They've already proven they can't be trusted with users' information - why would users want to have FB now tap their phone conversations?

BallsMcGee · Jan 3, 2013, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkie604

Well it's use the 6GB data bucket or get dinged for inter-country long-distance by the Telco. Even calling within my home province of British Columbia, we get charged long distance...

Get a better plan dude. Everyone is offering nationwide calling (big thanks to Wind and Mobilicity for that one).

I get unlimited social networking (not uncommon from the big 3). I wonder how long before they pull the plug on that thanks to this voice calling.

///M5 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:21 PM

And oh, fix the "WIth".

Small White Car · Jan 3, 2013, 04:23 PM

Makes sense. Our kids will hear that we used to just TYPE stuff in Facebook and look at us like we came from the old west or something.

Roessnakhan · Jan 3, 2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Small White Car

Makes sense. Our kids will hear that we used to just TYPE stuff in Facebook and look at us like we came from the old west or something.

Gives me the idea to send messages to friends in Morse Code.

charlieegan3 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkie604

Well it's use the 6GB data bucket or get dinged for inter-country long-distance by the Telco. Even calling within my home province of British Columbia, we get charged long distance...

Fair enough. One day we'll be on data only contracts I guess.

Cali Fornia · Jan 3, 2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M5

Great. Facebook will now know how my voice sounds like. They will be able to sell this piece of information somehow.

You will have to face ads popping up when surfing the web, speaking to you with your own voice.

aznkid25 · Jan 3, 2013, 04:40 PM

So is this an update to the Facebook app or just the messenger app? Already got an update for messenger, but nothing for the Facebook app yet.

Otterblue · Jan 3, 2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abz1981

Why only Canada? Seems to be Facebook is copying bbm voice.

Because over half our population is on Facebook

Chuck-Norris · Jan 3, 2013, 04:54 PM

for once canadians get dibs on something first LOL

KnightWRX · Jan 3, 2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longofest

Exactly. So, Facebook makes its money off of owning your data, knowing your habits, and then selling all of that information to advertisers and data collection firms it partners with.

I'm sure, like any ad placement agency out there, Facebook doesn't sell your information to advertisers at all. That's just daft, that information is a gold egg laying goose. You don't sell it, you get it to lay eggs.

What Facebook (and Google and Apple and every other ad placement service) does is collect information through analytics and then sell ad placement based on that information rather than selling the information directly. Doing business that way is much more sustainable.

trekkie604 · Jan 3, 2013, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallsMcGee

Get a better plan dude. Everyone is offering nationwide calling (big thanks to Wind and Mobilicity for that one).

I get unlimited social networking (not uncommon from the big 3). I wonder how long before they pull the plug on that thanks to this voice calling.

Unfortunately those nationwide plans bundle data. Only 2GB, I'm not giving up my 6GB

Jan 3, 2013, 04:03 PM	#2
ajvizzgamer101 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: United States	OMG, Facebook Phone is coming! FB Stock is going to go through the roof. __________________ 500GB Macbook Pro 2007 (OS X Mountain Lion) 16GB iPhone 4 (iOS 6) 16GB iPhone 5 (iOS 6) 32GB iPad 2 (iOS 6)
	1

Jan 3, 2013, 04:05 PM	#3
GekkePrutser macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland	Sounds like a cool addition (and the opportunity for Facebook to monitor even more of our lives, not sure if I like that ). I'm not in Canada but I probably wouldn't use it much (just like I don't use Facetime even though it's free). But I never really understood why they have so many different apps, Facebook itself, messenger, photos and pages. You can do everything inside the main app as well and it's much handier because you don't have to switch all the time. __________________ Macs: Mac Mini i5 2.5 Ghz w/Radeon GPU 16GB 2x128GB Crucial M4 SSD; MacBook Pro Retina 13", 2.5Ghz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD Mobile: iPhone 4 16GB, iPad (3rd gen) 32GB WiFi, iPod Shuffle 3G
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 04:06 PM	#4
abz1981 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2011	Why only Canada? Seems to be Facebook is copying bbm voice. __________________ 13.3" Macbook Air 2011, 1.7GHz, 4 GB RAM, 128GB flash storage; Apple Iphone 5 16GIG Black.
	2

Jan 3, 2013, 04:06 PM	#5
trekkie604 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada	Over the cell network or wifi only I wonder...? __________________ MacBook Pro Retina 13.3" \| iPhone 5 32GB \| iPad 3 LTE 32GB \| Windows 7 \| Photos on my flickr
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 04:08 PM	#8
baryon macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2009	Will this be compatible with desktop Facebook? They're not going to reach 1 billion users if they only provide their feature for mobile users. __________________ Sent from my iPod Shuffle
	4

Jan 3, 2013, 04:14 PM	#12
ShiftyPig macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AU	So I can use my phone as a phone? Hmm... this changes everything.
	12

Jan 3, 2013, 04:16 PM	#13
///M5 macrumors regular Join Date: May 2009	Great. Facebook will now know how my voice sounds like. They will be able to sell this piece of information somehow.
	9

Jan 3, 2013, 04:21 PM	#16
///M5 macrumors regular Join Date: May 2009	And oh, fix the "WIth".
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 04:23 PM	#17
Small White Car macrumors G3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Washington DC	Makes sense. Our kids will hear that we used to just TYPE stuff in Facebook and look at us like we came from the old west or something.
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 04:40 PM	#21
aznkid25 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2007	So is this an update to the Facebook app or just the messenger app? Already got an update for messenger, but nothing for the Facebook app yet.
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 04:54 PM	#23
Chuck-Norris macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012	for once canadians get dibs on something first LOL
	5

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