Skip to main content

Facebook to bring audio and video calls back to its main app

Facebook announced on Monday that it will bring audio and video calls back to its main app after splitting the social network’s communication features into two separate apps. The change is considered “just a test” and can already be seen by a small group of users.

As reported by Bloomberg, Mark Zuckerberg’s company has decided to backtrack and will once again add communication features to the Facebook app.

A few years ago, users could send messages to other Facebook users through the social network’s main app. However, the company announced in 2014 that the Messenger platform would become a standalone app. At that time, Facebook claimed that Messenger needed to have its own app to gain even more features, and indeed, the Messenger app has grown significantly since then.

Messenger is evolving from stand-alone app to broader service Facebook Inc. is bringing voice and video calling to its flagship social networking service, the latest attempt to fine-tune its communications features after spinning off Messenger as a separate app in 2014. 

Although audio and video calls are coming back to the Facebook app, text chat should remain available exclusively in the Messenger app for now. Earlier this month, Facebook had already announced end-to-end encryption to audio and video calls in Messenger. The app was also recently updated with support for QR Code and payment links.

According to Director of Product for Messenger Connor Hayes, the new communication features in Facebook’s app are now being rolled out to a select few users in the US. There’s no word on expansion to more users or regions.

Read also:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Filipe Espósito Filipe Espósito

Filipe Espósito is a Brazilian tech Journalist who started covering Apple news on iHelp BR with some exclusive scoops — including the reveal of the new Apple Watch Series 5 models in titanium and ceramic. He joined 9to5Mac to share even more tech news around the world.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications