Both, Kik and Facebook have announced group video chat features for their messenger apps.
As the holidays draw closer, tech companies announce the release of new video group chat features.
Facebook releases group video chat features on their Messenger app
On their website, Facebook revealed the release of Group Video Chat in Messenger, allowing Facebook users to video chat with up to fifty people at a time.
“Chatting face-to-face live as a group is perfect for those spontaneous moments when text just isn’t enough… or when you have a major case of FOMO,” Stephane Taine, Product Manager behind Facebook Messenger said. “Group Video Chat in Messenger makes it simple and seamless to stay connected face-to-face.”
Facebook, who reportedly 245 million people making video calls via the Facebook messenger app every month, explained how the new feature works.
How does Facebook messenger group video chat work?
Once a conversation of starts, Facebook messenger users can communicate with up to 50 friends. Friends can join in on the conversation, listen in, talk, or be on camera. Once, more than 6 people are on the Facebook messenger call, only the dominant speaker will be shown to everyone.
What do you have to do?
As long as you have the latest version of Facebook Messenger, then the process simply requires starting a new conversation, clicking the video icon on the upper right corner and then everyone in the group will be notified.
Just last month, Facebook’s other messaging application WhatsApp released video calls to their billion users.
Kik also announces a new group video chat feature
However, it is worth pointing out that Facebook messenger’s competitor KiK announced the release of group video chat conferencing on their mobile app on the same day.
Kik’s new feature will allow for users to make video calls with up to six people.
Kik reportedly says the video chat app was their most requested feature. Engineers provide a different kind of messaging experience in comparison to Facebook.
All users have to do is tap the video chat button in the upper right-hand corner to turn on video. In addition, users can share photos, stickers in gifs while video chatting.
The release of Facebook messenger and Kik’s group video chat conference is probably not a coincidence. As Christmas is less than a week away, the holidays is the time were many family and friends connect with one another. However, with winter storms and flight advisories currently across the country, the Facebook messenger and Kik’s new feature allows for people talk face-to-face even though being miles away.