Facebook has just announced that it is enhancing its standalone Facebook Messenger app with free video calling. The new product launch for Facebook was made by Stan Chudnovsky, Head of Product for the Messenger app, and Param Reddy, Engineering Manager.
“Video calling on Messenger is coming today to iOS and Android users in Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Laos, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay,”
Facebook Messenger development manager Stan Chudnovsky and technical director Param Reddy wrote in the announcement: “It will be rolling out to other countries in the coming months.”
The Android and iOS app stores have not yet been updated with the new feature.
This particular launch seems to make sense when you think about Facebook's increasing focus on its standalone Messenger app. Last month, at its F8 developer conference, Facebook unveiled the new Messenger Platform, and shortly after announced the app's first Web client.
So it was probably expected that it would add video calling to Messenger, as Facebook sees Snapchat traffic continue to grow.
Additionally, there is a livestreaming feature on Twitter from Periscope and startup Meerkat.
Watch the presentation video
