After seeing the rise in video conferencing apps, Facebook has finally decided to bring audio and video calling onto desktops with the launch of Messenger apps for MacOS and Windows.
This is nine years after the launch of Facebook Messenger. And Facebook had originally announced the Messenger desktop apps at its F8 conference last year. Guess with the COVID-19 and the cancellation of the 2020 F8 conference, the social media giant did not bother with a big event to unveil the apps.
With this launch, you can now video chat on your computer and stay connected with friends and family all over the world. All you have to do is download the Mac and Windows desktop apps to experience this.
According to Stan Chudnovsky, VP of Messenger in a blog post,
“Now more than ever, people are using technology to stay in touch with the people they care about, even when physically apart. Over the past month, we saw more than a 100% increase in people using their desktop browser for audio and video calling on Messenger. Now with apps for MacOS and Windows, the best of Messenger is coming to desktop, including unlimited and free group video calls.”
CEO Mark Zuckerberg says “We’re all looking for more ways to be together even while we’re physically apart. So today we’re launching native Messenger apps for MacOS and Windows. Group video calls and messages on our apps have surged — Messenger use on desktop has more than doubled in the last month. These new native apps will make the experience a lot better. I hope you enjoy!”
Here are some highlights:
- Group video calls on a larger screen. Stay in touch with family and friends, join a workout, or host a virtual happy hour.
- Easy to connect. You don’t need to know someone’s email or phone number since all your Facebook friends have Messenger.
- Multitasking. Your chats are easily accessible, and you can pop in and out of the app while doing other things on your computer.
- Notifications. You can receive notifications for new messages, so you can quickly find the chat you’re looking for. But you’re in control — you can choose to mute and snooze notifications.
- Chats sync across mobile and desktop. You’ll never miss a call or message no matter what device you’re using.
- Everything you love about Messenger on a bigger screen. Including Dark Mode and GIFs
Kudos to facebook Messenger. However, one cannot help but notice that compared to the likes of Zoom that can handle up to 500 people in a group video chat, Facebook Messenger can only handle 8 people.
It also does not offer a way to easily share a URL that lets other people join a call, so it’s not useful for public webinars or social events.
Facebook has a lot to do to step up to the basic level of the current apps to ensure uptake.
1 Comment
That’s great!!
I usually don’t post comments on articles but I’m really impressed. I must say, In today’s speedy world, the mobile app market is extending by leaps and bounds. As a result, mobile marketing has become more competitive, to make sure the visibility of your app in such a complex situation, you need to be very particular about the approach being followed for the Mobile App Development.
By the way best of luck for the app.
Thanks for sharing this.