Facebook is out today with a new product to connect multiple people via video chat and compete with popular offerings like Zoom, Group FaceTime, Skype, Houseparty, and more. Just like Google is trying with Google meet.
Facebook announced a number of messaging updates today with the biggest news being the ability to start a group video chat with Messengers Rooms feature.
For now, the feature is quite limited compared to Zoom and even Group FaceTime. However, that will expand over time and true to its vision of merging messaging, Rooms will arrive for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Portal in the future.
Introducing Messenger Rooms, group video calls that you can start and share via @messenger @facebookapp and soon @instagram @whatsapp and @portalfacebook. We’re testing Rooms in a few countries now and plan to roll it out globally in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/kQWb2nbPzY
— Facebook (@Facebook) April 24, 2020
Look out for the pop-alert the next time you launch Facebook on your iPhone, iPad, or on the web to start a video chat with Messenger Rooms. Facebook has launched Messenger Rooms in “a few countries” however it hasn’t said which ones those are for now before a global rollout of the new feature.
The Verge notes that Messenger Rooms are not encrypted like Group FaceTime calls or even WhatsApp video calls.
