Facebook Releases Rival Video Conferencing Service
Video conferencing apps like Zoom and Skype now have a little extra competition. Facebook has a launched a new video-conferencing feature called Messenger Rooms.
Messenger Rooms allows anyone with a Facebook account to create a video conference and invite their friends, family and colleagues to join even if they themselves are not Facebook users.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, video-conferencing has become a necessary service. It allows for businesses to conduct meetings, and for friends and family to stay connected. Messenger Rooms allows the public another option in the world of video conferencing and will compete with Zoom, which in recent weeks has become insanely popular.
Over 300 million users use Zoom every day. Zoom is very easy to use, but has faced widespread criticism as the app has run into several security issues.
The new video-conferencing app from Facebook has the potential to reach a much larger audience. Facebook has reported an increase in usage for Messenger and WhatsApp, both Facebook Messaging applications. They report over 700 million people are using these apps every day.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement that the ability to be able to video chat has “emerged as especially important during this pandemic.”
“I’ve really enjoyed testing this,” Zuckerberg continued. He said having the ability to drop into rooms with his friends was “this neat, serendipitous and spontaneous interaction.”
Messenger Rooms looks and works very much like Zoom. Participants are able to join without downloading an app. Facebook users will see a notification at the top of their news feed notifying them when a friend has created a room, and they can “drop in” as they please. The service will allow for up to 50 participants in a room.
Although there is an aspect of spontaneity between meetings with friends, Facebook said that there will be default settings to offer security for those who want privacy, or for business meetings to keep away cyber criminals and intruders. Users who open a room also have the ability to open it to the public, or invite the specific people they would like to attend.
Hosts also have the ability to create a link so that they are able to invite people who do not have a Facebook account. The link would open the meeting in a web browsers for users without an account. Although this could present a security issue, as recipients of the link can share it with others, hosts of the room will have the ability to either “lock” a room or remove someone from it. When a host locks a room, no more participants will be allowed to enter. Also, if the host removes a person from a meeting, the room will automatically lock. Users will also have the ability to report a room if it thinks it is violating Facebook’s rules.
Much like Zoom, Facebook will likely also face scrutiny over the use of personal data. The social media giant said it will collect data from Messenger Rooms “to provide the service and improve the product experience.” Users will not receive ads in their meeting rooms, and video won’t be used to send participants targeted ads. For users without an account who enter the meeting through a link, information including the browser they are using and their name will be collected to identify them.
The video-conferencing service has already begun to roll out worldwide.
Story via NPR
