Typically, if two FB users want to perform a video call, they’ve got to leave Facebook and connect through either a Skype client, Apple’s Facetime, Google Talk or even Google+ Hangouts. Now, all the users need to do is download a small FB plugin and boom — instant video messaging.
By integrating video calling directly into the Facebook experience they’re able to drop this new technology directly into the mainstream. You thought getting Friend Requests from your parents was bad? then you’re going to love explaining to your mum why you don’t accept her video chat requests.
The Facebook/Skype partnership is a shrewd one, to be sure. Skype, if you’ll remember, was purchased by Microsoft in May for $US8.5 billion. This move not only strengthens Facebook’s own feature list but also strengthens the budding FB/MS alliance (what with Facebook’s recent Bing integration and all) against their common Google enemy.
In addition to Video Calling, Facebook also revealed Group Chat with a new design that makes it easier to find buddies that are online.
Mr Mack
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 8:43 AM“This move not only strengthens Facebook’s own feature list but also strengthens the budding FB/MS alliance … against their common Google enemy.”
Installing Skype, and it asks if I would like to install Chrome =P
Andrew
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 10:32 AMAre you sure it didn’t just ask if you wanted to install the Skype plugin for the browser that you have set as deafult?
Brandon W
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 10:35 AMAhhh, you still need the plugin for videoFB to work. Just waiting for real-time video communications in a browser with no plugins – HTML5.
https://labs.ericsson.com/developer-community/blog/beyond-html5-experiment-real-time-communication-browser
Sam
Friday, July 8, 2011 at 12:27 AMThey can’t even get the standard chat function right on facebook. Their new chat system is their worst effort yet.
LeggyT
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 10:14 PMAnyone know when this is available in Australia? Currently just says coming soon.