Facebook has added a voice record feature to its Messenger apps for Android and iOS, with plans to introduce full voice calls in the near future.
Instead of typing messages or sending photos and smiley faces, users can now record and send quick voice messages.
To send a voice message, users need to tap the “+” sign next to the text field, and a new option to record a message will appear. Users then tap and hold the record button to record a message, and release it to send.
The app does not indicate whether your recipient listened to a message, unlike text messages that send a notification after the message is read.
Facebook is also set to introduce voice phone calls in the near future, testing free voice calls between Messenger buddies when connected to Wi-Fi.
The Voice over IP function will be limited for a few weeks to Canadian users of the iOS app, but Facebook says it will become available to more users later this year.
To initiate a call, users will need to tap the “i” button in the top right corner and select “Free Call.”
In recent months, Facebook has increased its messaging features, dropping requirements for users of its Android Messenger app to log in with a Facebook account.
Allowing users to sign in with just their name and phone number made it a more attractive option to mobile owners who don’t want to use Facebook’s social networking features but need a reliable messaging service.
