Meta is trying to turn Messenger into a video conferencing competitor
- Messenger has made video and audio improvements for video and voice calls
- You can now leave voicemails on Messenger, just like you can on FaceTime
- There’s also deeper integration with iOS that enables Siri support
Meta has revealed plans to make Messenger a more capable video conferencing solution as it looks to keep pace with other advanced work-based alternatives.
Key to the improvements are a series of upgrades designed to improve the video calling experience, and it’s not surprising that artificial intelligence is making a cameo appearance.
The new features are designed to grow the more than seven billion minutes of Facebook and Messenger calls the company already hosts every day.
Complementing the existing Meta AI features within the Messenger app, users will soon be able to use AI-generated backgrounds to personalize video calls. Users can ‘describe an image’ and choose from a selection of examples.
More importantly for those who spend a lot of time conversing online, Meta adds HD support for video calling, along with background noise cancellation and voice isolation. Wi-Fi connections automatically enable HD calling and users can choose whether they want to continue using HD quality over mobile data.
Audio and video voice messaging now allows users to leave messages for contacts who don’t answer, just like a traditional voicemail. The social media platform likened the new feature to a “fully featured phone, plus some extra features,” but the feature comes a year after Apple introduced similar functionality for FaceTime.
In an era of constant scrutiny for anti-competitive business practices, this latest feature is a welcome move that will help iPhone users get the most out of the app. Messenger now integrates with Siri, allowing users to ask the voice assistant to “send a message to a contact” and then dictate the content of the message.
The company proudly boasted that the introduction of new features was the result of user feedback, and that Messenger would become “easier, more reliable and more fun.”
