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Want to call your Facebook friends via video chat? Soon enough you’ll be able to. Earlier today one of our readers sent us a link to one of Facebook’s cached JavaScript files which reveals a number of clues as to a soon to be released video chat service. There’s no way to mistake the code which is still currently accessible. There are actual notification messages including “Waiting for your friend…”, “Video call denied.”, “Incoming call:”, and “Loading video call…”
The code pretty obviously implies that Facebook is preparing to launch a video chat service. So why would Facebook be focused on launching a video chat service? To keep users on the site longer of course! Additionally, Facebook can increasingly become a central hub of communication for many of its users. What’s interesting about these new features is that they compete directly with the features within Google’s Gmail product.
The only thing Facebook is missing now is an improved messaging system. Facebook’s messaging system is pretty horrible currently. As of now, navigating and archiving messages is not easy. Filtering messages is also extremely challenging. One thing that Facebook’s messaging service has above others is the ability to integrate applications as attachments.
While Facebook may not be the primary communication channel for adults, younger users have been using the site as the primary way for getting in touch with friends. In other words: email is dying. Not only will Facebook take on Google when it comes to video chat but they’ll also be competing against other web based video chat providers such as TokBox.
With all of these communication tools it’s clear that Facebook wants to become the central hub of communication on the web for its many users. The addition of video chat emphasizes this focus. Earlier this week Facebook upgraded their messaging system to take advantage of friend list filters and it appears that there will soon be a video component as well.
Whether or not this will be integrated into the existing chat system is unknown but it’s clear a live video messaging service is in the works at Facebook.
Thanks to Fabian Uebersax for the tip!
Update
Facebook sent us an update to say “We had been testing a video chat feature, but we have no current plans to launch it to users.”
Really interesting find, Nick! Just wrote it up on Mashable and pondered whether they could do this without a download: that would lead to massive usage at schools and colleges that block downloaded apps like Skype, right?
good article
nice one from fb
Of course, if you use the video chat too much or too long, your Facebook account will be shut down and closed without explanation.
I wonder if this will also be incorporated into the fan pages…it would be very useful for businesses to have live Q&A sessions directly from the public page…
If live videos are coming and are integrated into the existing chat, then combined with the friends list integration, it will compete with the IMs available today.
Do you have any insights on whether facebook is going to integrate any 3rd party IMs for this feature or if they are building their own. Are they setup in terms of scalability to manage the load.
This is huge and I’d love this feature.
Agreed that an improved messaging system would add real value to the functionality of the social networking site.
It would be an interesting addition adding Live Video Chat, makes you wonder if any of your friends are potentially Leslie Grantham though
The picture you used is hte google video chat promo shot isnt it? Bringing video chat to the social portals is a natural progression. It brings back the intimacy that is missing from these sites. Being able to talk to our friends face to face instantly is a treat. No more waiting or them to log in and reply. Just call them, see them, talk to them.
If live video chat is coming soon on facebook so it is good but i think it makes a website heavy because if users come on video chat so the load on website will be increased.
Wouldn’t this cause ridiculous bandwidth issues?
“…one of Facebook’s cached JavaScript files which reveals a number of clues as to a soon to be released video chat service.” Javscript. So it will run on the clients browser, therefore not causing too much pressure on the servers, although the users computer may run a bit laggy because of it? This is kool.
realy like the idea of video chat
Good ideat indeed.Me be problem now but it will be coming as soon as a havey softwear service coming.
“Wouldn’t this cause ridiculous bandwidth issues?” Not if most/all of the video went peer-to-peer.
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They can do video chat without any download by using Flash/Flex.
For exapmle http://www.avchat.net has been doing flash video chat apps for some while now and they are not the only ones.
Google is also using some Flash in its Gmail video chat feature!
Aren’t over 30% of Facebook users under the age of 18? Wouldn’t this present a liability issue? And the thought of powering 250 million instant video chats doesn’t seem realistic. But this would definitely do away with Skype and instant messengers and TokBox. Veribu is the only site that might have a chance of surviving with video if this article is true. I use veribu.com to talk to my girlfriend through video chat. Best site for video out there right now by far. But if this article has any credibility behind it, Facebook is definitely about to take over the video chat market.
I want chat video in my facebook page>>>>>
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@mik: its probably going to be ajax / jsfl… there is no way they could do it solely using js
Think its a must if FB is going to survive, should have already been incorperated when facebook was lunched
It’s a must if FB is going to survive, it should have been incorperated when facebook was frist lunched. Good to see a much needed update……..