Facebook shared today that it is turning on live video broadcasting from its app for all iPhone users in the United States. This feature was previously limited to public figures and verified accounts then expanded to a limited number of test iPhone users last month. Facebook’s effort in this space is similar to Meerkat and Twitter’s Periscope service, which popularized live video streaming from mobile devices last year.
While live video broadcasting is limited to members in the United States for now, Facebook says it hopes to expand the feature in other countries “over the coming weeks.”
For new users getting started, Facebook shares these instructions for how to use the live video broadcasting feature within its app:
To share live video, tap on Update Status and then select the Live Video icon. You can write a quick description and choose the audience that you want to share with before going live. During your broadcast, you’ll see the number of live viewers, the names of friends who are tuning in and a real-time stream of comments. When you end your broadcast, it will be saved on your Timeline like any other video, which you can then delete or keep for your friends to watch later.
While the feature is currently limited to US iPhone users, Facebook says it will work to bring live video broadcasting to Android phones in the future as well. Be sure to have the latest version of Facebook for iOS before trying to go live.
Earlier this week, the competing service Periscope launched an impressive iOS app update that enables live broadcasting from the view of select GoPro action cameras. Meerkat similarly supports live action broadcasting from select GoPros.
What do you think? Does Facebook’s version of live broadcasting catch your interest, or do other services already offer this ability with better implementation?
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Requires Flash to watch videos live. EPIC FAIL. Sticking to Periscope.
Does the broadcasting feature also work for the iPad?
I had it In Denmark yesterday, so it’s not just in the US
If they do this right it going to be a serious competitor to Periscope but at the same time why does Facebook seem to always take someone else’s idea and try to make it their own instead of coming up with something new and fresh?’
me and my friends have been doing this for weeks