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SAN FRANCISCO, United States (CNN Business) – Facebook has a long history of expanding its features to simulate key competitors … and is now approaching the “Zoom” platform.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Friday that the tech giant is creating a new video feature for its Messenger app, called Messenger Rooms.
In a graphic ad, Zuckerberg said the new service would allow users to host a meeting with up to 50 people at a time with no time limit.
The free version of the Zoom service allows video chats of up to 100 people together, but for a maximum of 40 minutes.
According to Zuckerberg, Facebook users can invite people to Messenger Rooms even if they don’t have Facebook accounts.
Video calling services have skyrocketed in recent months as a coronavirus outbreak forces people around the world to work and communicate from home.
Zoom has added tens of millions of users thanks to its ability to host large virtual groups and fun add-ons such as customizable photo backgrounds.
This is another feature that will be introduced via Facebook, but the Facebook backgrounds will be extended to 360 degrees, as Zuckerberg boasts that the experience will take it to the “next level”.
The service can be accessed through the Messenger or Facebook application, but will soon be added to other company applications, including Instagram and WhatsApp. The service will be available in some countries this week, and will be expanded worldwide in the coming weeks.
Zuckerberg said more than 700 million people participate in video calls through their apps every day, and usage has more than doubled in many countries in recent months.
The company will begin doubling the maximum number of people who can simultaneously join a video call through WhatsApp, from four to eight. Zuckerberg said this update will be released next week.
Zuckerberg added that WhatsApp offers encrypted video calls, in what may seem like a veiled criticism of privacy issues in the Zoom service, which has recently generated controversy.
