Last Sunday we talked about the pros and cons of the new Google +. This new social community is Google’s challenge to Facebook. Then just as Google+ was probably warming up, Facebook comes in with another just-stay-with-me-and-not-google+ feature, — the integrated video calling and the conference chat.
For the past week or so, Google+ users have been enjoying simple, streamlined group video chat by using the new social network’s Hangout feature. But in a feat not to be outdone by the spry newcomer, Facebook revealed its own video chat service, powered by the Microsoft-owned Skype platform.
The new video chat option works with Facebook’s already popular chat feature, allowing anyone with a webcam and a Facebook account to communicate face-to-face. How to activate it? Select the video option at the top of the chat window. You will then be prompted to download and install the software that powers the feature. After installation, a single click brings up a video chat window with your conversation partner, with no need to launch a separate program.
Facebook has also introduced a group chat option for those who prefer the text-based chat format. A new icon on the chat window allows you to add additional friends to whatever conversations you already have going. Meanwhile, the Group video chat, which Google+’s Hangout feature excels at, isn’t yet a part of the new rollout, but when asked about the possibility, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted “I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
Accompanying the new chat features is a redesigned Facebook chat sidebar which appears and adjusts itself to match your window width whenever there is enough room. Your chat friends can now be organized based on who you chat with the most, which is great for those of you who have beefy friends lists and are tired of scrolling to find your favorite gossipers.
The addition of Skype to Facebook isn’t entirely surprising, given the fact that the video chat program recently added Facebook integration such as the ability to browse your friends’ status updates and “Like” posts. Bringing Skype functionality to the social network seems like the next logical step, and it’s one that Facebook clearly didn’t think twice to make.
(Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/techlife-facebook-video-chat-flying-cars-iphone-5-040819832.html;_ylt=Ar6pyV15jeVYY2WvDFi4zmAjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTNicjdtdTRrBHBrZwM0MmYzNzE1MC05N)