Messenger App Brings Free VoIP to US Facebook Users — At a Price 58
The Washington Post (among many others) reports on a development from Facebook that may excite many more users than does the much-hyped announcement about richer search capabilities: after launching a Canadian trial balloon not long ago, Facebook is expanding the reach of its free in-app VoiP communications with free voice comms via the company's smartphone app. "Excite" for some people will also mean "infuriate": to get the free candy, the recipient will need to have shared his or her number with Facebook, which many people will understandably be loath to do. From the WaPo article: "To use the feature, Facebook users must hit the 'i' info icon in the corner or a conversation or contact information page. That panel has a 'Free Call' button that you can use if your friend has shared a mobile number with Facebook and is available for a call. The company slowly has been building out the features available in chat — most notably with the 2011 Skype partnership that put video calling on the Web version of its site. When it released Facebook Messenger last fall, it became even clearer that messaging and mobile applications were priorities for the company."
Share a mobile vs. land line number (Score:5, Interesting)
That panel has a 'Free Call' button that you can use if your friend has shared a mobile number with Facebook
Based only on the summary, it appears this won't work for someone who has a land line and a Wi-Fi-only tablet, such as an iPod touch, iPad, Nexus 7, etc. The article mentions the iPod but doesn't say one way or the other whether there's a provision for iPod touch users.
Re:Irrational (Score:3, Interesting)
Good for you.
Me. I do not give a shit.
I share nothing with Facebook and will continue to not use it.
I do not find my life empty and without purpose. I am not missing invites to my (real) friends birthday parties or get togethers.
I have about 40 - 50 people in my life. Friends, family and co workers I give a shit about. I find no need of having 500 -600 Facebook "friends".
Not sure how I would have a life if I had 500 real life friends. Even with social networking to make it a bit easier.
I think that many people do not even know what a friend is anymore.
My life is full and I have 10% of the "friends" that many Facebook users have.