Facebook Launches Group Chat, A New Chat Design and Video Calling

[engine]

At a conference in Facebook's HQ in Palo Alto Mark Zuckerberg talked about the "something awesome" [webmasterworld.com] launch today.

He talked about Group Chat and a new chat design, along with Video Calling in a hook-up with Skype.

Group Chat and a simplified chat design is rolling out today, along with video calling.

More to follow as the announcements come out.

[paulguy]

Very interesting considering Mircosoft's purchase of Skype.

[Hugene]

If it needs Skype installed on the same computer where you're using FB, it won't pick up too much. Also, will you need to login to Skype too? I think the big G outdid the FB, that is if I understand correctly that the video chat in FB wont be a native web app.

Also, video chat on FB probably means some more facial recognition training + a new voice recognition feature. I of one won't be using this.

[Chrispcritters]

Hmm, so this was the "something awesome" announcement?

[linuxguy]

Disappointed.

[Pfui]

FWIW...

"Call Your Friends Right From Facebook" (blog.facebook.com)

HUFFPOST TECH on the topic [huffingtonpost.com...]

[ember]

That's it? Yawn.

[Habtom]

I closed my account last week. Very happy and never have been more proud of myself:) Now, where do I go to claim back the time I wasted on Facebook?

[bwnbwn]

Habtom I can't agree with you more. When I read the "Big News" my first thought was yahoo days when they hosted a chat. Remember those they were a waste of time and I see this as in the same class.

[lexipixel]

I don't know, my teen uses FB extensively, but switches to Skype and OOVOO to video chat with friends.

If you're a video chatter, this is a "+1" for FB.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Facebook video chat is one on one only, not group.

I closed my account last week.

But... your farm... :)

[KJBweb]

I've limited my account to include friends that I only interact with on a day-to-day basis, disabled myself from appearing in search results and so on.

I've got (just) 35-40 friends which means not much new happens, though I'm in touch with my normal (non-geek) friends without appearing to be an anti-social git; this means FB gets boring very quickly and I spend probably only around 5 minutes a day on it at most.

No app's/games/farms for me thanks :)

[celgins]

Typical responses from IT folks. :)

This is actually good news for Facebook users who may or may not already use Skype.

[darco]

wonder if this really work