Facebook rolls out free phone call feature in Canada
Now you can do more than just poke, creep or instant message
a friend on Facebook.
And here’s a plus: us Canadians won’t have to really wait to get access to this feature.
Starting today, Facebook is rolling out a new feature that will let you call friends for free (or as free as your existing phone plan is).
The thing is, however, that your contacts will also need to update their Messenger apps (or get the app in the first place) in order to receive the phone calls. So far, none of my friends have the latest app, so I’m stuck with sending normal messages.
Reports say the feature hasn’t been rolled out to users anywhere else in the world, so hopefully this exclusivity makes you feel a little better after Canada’s loss to the Americans in this week’s World Junior hockey game.
While they’re not saying it officially, it seems as though Facebook is trying to take a chunk out of Skype’s market for Internet-based voice calls. And it’s going to be tough.
For starters, Skype has a huge head start. People say “I’m going to Skype John” and not “I’m going to Facebook call John.”
The other thing is that many of us hardly ever make phone calls anymore, unless you're having a long conversation with someone in a far flung place, like Sweden or Mexico. Voice usage was actually down in 2012 - and it keeps going that way.
It seems as though Facebook is trying to get into another market and make more revenue for its shareholders. After all, it can’t let its stock price slide anymore after recent gains.
Will you use Facebook Messenger to make phone calls?
- Maurice Cacho, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
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Posted by: Horace Bell | Jan 8, 2013 3:45:54 AM
Wow, never knew Facebook was that nice. This just shows their dominance in the Social Networking Competition.