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Facebook Messenger Launches 6-Screen Group Video Chat (techcrunch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the fun-for-the-whole-family dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Facebook Messenger is launching its own split-screen group video chat feature. Six users can appear in split-screen at the time and don Snapchat-style selfie masks, while 50 total can listen and talk over voice while sending text, stickers, emojis, and GIFs. Group video chat starts rolling out worldwide on iOS, Android, and web, today, though Android will have to wait for the MSQRD-powered selfie masks that might not ever come to desktop. It's free on wi-fi but standard data charges will apply on cellular connections. The launch makes Messenger the first popular western messaging app with group video chat. It's managed to beat FaceTime/iMessage, Google Duo, and Snapchat to the punch. U.S. teens might be most familiar with the format from the recent rise of Houseparty, the new app from the makers of Meerkat. Messenger group video chat works a little differently, but with a similar design. Instead of simply logging into an ever-present video chat room that notifies friends like on Houseparty, you deliberately select friends or a group text thread to invite to a video call. Once in, up to 4 Messenger users can share big slices of the screen, while Houseparty accommodates 8. Between 4 and 6 callers, the Messenger screen switches to a gallery format, with whoever is speaking taking up the bulk of the screen with little thumbnails of everyone else at the bottom. And everyone beyond the first 6 up to 50 callers will only be able to listen, speak, and send content but won't appear in the video gallery.

16 comments

  1. Re:Video chat is awkward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Agreed. Video chat needs to go away.

  2. Now, you and 5 idiots can collaborate digitally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AND IT'S ALL LOGGED FOREVER!

  3. Future by backslashdot · · Score: 1

    It's too bad the present generation of VR sucks. But in 15 to 20 years, when they can finally squeeze a 5K per eye display into a VR headset .. that will take video chat to the next level. Autonomous vehicles may be widely available too, so I imagine that could make things crazy.

  4. Re:Now, you and 5 idiots can collaborate digitally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not collaboration, it's live-chillin. With selfie masks. And everybody's doing it. Get with the program, gramps.

  5. Up to 6, huh? by SeaFox · · Score: 1

    Is that supposed to be impressive? Doesn't Skype already support a lot more simultaneous participants on video chat?

    1. Re:Up to 6, huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm assuming "first" they mean mobile platforms..... newer mobile platforms. cause didnt yahoo have a video chat function back in the day? and hangouts has video chat features. not sure they're "beating" anyone to this feature.

    2. Re:Up to 6, huh? by Solandri · · Score: 1

      Google Hangouts supported multi-user video chats too. Up to 9 people at once using a phone, tablet, netbook/chromebook, or computer. Right up until they ripped the feature out and replaced it with a new app which only supports video chat between two people on phones. (Actually I think the video call function in Hangouts still works, just the ability to initiate a video call via Hangouts from your contact list or web browser has been removed. If you manually type in a number or contact name from Hangouts' video call tab, it seems to work.)

    3. Re:Up to 6, huh? by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      Is that supposed to be impressive? Doesn't Skype already support a lot more simultaneous participants on video chat?

      Yes, this is just a PR news release.

      The current winner right now is Google Hangouts, with 9 participants, plus an unlimited number of live viewers.

      The problem with Skype is that if you have one person with a slower connection, everyone's connection will slow down to that lowest common denominator. In the case of Google Hangouts, the video-audio feeds get all merged into one stream on the server-side, so even if you have one person with a slow connection, only that person's video will seem choppy without degrading the videos from the other participants.

      And it seems Facebook Messenger is doing it the same way as Google Hangouts, since it's also allowing up to 50 live viewers, which is good. Of course, having all those feeds being merged into one feed per conference is also good for the NSA.

    4. Re:Up to 6, huh? by antdude · · Score: 1

      Cisco's Spark and WebEx can way more. :P

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    5. Re:Up to 6, huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They aren't free and they aren't widely used (for whatever reason) so they don't count...

  6. Hangouts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why does everyone forget hangouts? It is not quite the same implementation but hangouts did group video chat ages ago.

  7. Re:mod Up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would but the domain is for sale, dumbass.

  8. First? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Skype had group video calling (oh, and messaging as well, duh) like years ago. Welcome to the club, FB :)

  9. Kik by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

    Kik released a version with group video chat last week.