The world's largest social network, Facebook, is continuing to bolster its messaging services, and users of its iOS and Android Messenger apps can now send voice messages.
Facebook's standalone Messenger app was released in October 2011, and like other instant messaging services, the app allows users to send messages and photos to individuals or groups. Users can also see who is online (on mobile or Web), when someone has read a message, and when someone is typing. Apart from the data connection fee, the service is essentially free.
The new voice-message feature released this week by Facebook now allows Messenger users to send each other voice clips up to one minute long. Voice clips can be added to messages by selecting the '+' symbol next to the text entry box in the app, and then selecting 'Record Voice'.
When sent, the voice message appears within the conversation stream, and can be accessed in both the mobile and Web interfaces. The Messenger app is, however, a requirement for being able to record voice messages.
Testing VOIP
Along with the release of the update for the messaging app, Facebook is also reportedly testing voice over IP (VOIP) calling through Messenger for iOS in Canada. If the test is successful, it is anticipated that Facebook could roll out the feature to users in other regions in due course.
Should the service be opened to Facebook's billion-strong user base, it could give the social network even greater control of the mobile-social ecosystem and offer another potential revenue stream for the platform (in the form of upgrades and 'premium' services).
Facebook has been pushing aggressively to better position itself in the mobile space and recently made the Android Messenger app available to non-Facebook users in select regions (SA included). This allows users to sign in with just their names and mobile numbers, and makes the service more of a direct competitor to other free messaging services such as Whatsapp.
It has been noted that the Messenger service could act as an entry point into the Facebook ecosystem for users who do not have Facebook accounts. By adding voice messaging and calling to the app, Facebook could also seek to gain even more of users' time spent on their mobile phones.
Mobile potential
According to figures from Facebook, more than 102 million users access the social network from their mobile phones only - a figure that continues to increase rapidly. Facebook's sequential quarterly growth of daily active users (DAUs) from 526 million to 552 million is also almost solely driven by mobile.
Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg has said that mobile is a key focus area for Facebook looking forward: "Mobile is a huge opportunity for Facebook. On average, mobile users are around 20% more likely to use Facebook on any given day."
The Mobility 2012 report by World Wide Worx shows 38% of all cellphone users in SA use Facebook (with 73% growth since 2010) and the social network is already the primary means of instant messaging within the local market.
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