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Facebook Inc. is bringing voice and video calling to its flagship social networking service. Some users, including those in the US, will be able to place voice or video calls from the Facebook app beginning August 24.
The social media platform is letting some users make voice and video calls within its main app on a trial basis, aiming to make it easier to place calls without opening its standalone Messenger app.
The social media giant spun out Messenger from its main app years ago, meaning users would have to download a separate app in order to send messages and make calls.
Facebook has been trying to tie together messaging across its suite of apps and first enabled it between Instagram and Messenger last September. The move enabled users of each service to find, message and hold video calls with contacts on the other without needing to download both apps. It plans to eventually integrate WhatsApp into the mix.
However, a Facebook spokesperson said that for a full-featured messaging, audio and video call experience, people should continue using Messenger.
Facebook also started testing a limited version of Messenger’s inbox in the core Facebook app last fall. Messenger was once built into Facebook’s app, but the company spun it out seven years ago, forcing users to download a separate app in order send private messages from a mobile phone.
Facebook first enabled messaging between its Instagram app and Messenger last September, and there are plans to bring the capability to its WhatsApp messaging service as well. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has argued that integrating the company’s messaging services is a benefit to users, letting them reach more people and reducing the need to download or jump between separate apps.
The latest attempt by the company is seemed to be a slow but consistent effort internally to integrate all of Facebook’s apps and services.