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?
Comment by Pete Cashmore — May 15, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
good article
Comment by Tyler Gillies — May 16, 2009 @ 3:18 am
nice one from fb
Comment by Daniel Adams — May 16, 2009 @ 5:49 am
Of course, if you use the video chat too much or too long, your Facebook account will be shut down and closed without explanation.
Comment by Monty — May 16, 2009 @ 9:14 am
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…
Comment by Thomas Walker — May 16, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
cant wait for this one.. facebook is awesome..!!!
Comment by idotkontji — May 16, 2009 @ 2:20 pm
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.
Comment by Sudha Jamthe — May 16, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
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
Comment by Joe Dawson — May 17, 2009 @ 1:46 am
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.
Comment by Kevin Adair — May 17, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
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.
Comment by Facebook App Develop — May 17, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Wouldn’t this cause ridiculous bandwidth issues?
Comment by Dave Kerpen — May 18, 2009 @ 10:09 am
"…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.
Comment by Mik McManus — May 18, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
realy like the idea of video chat
Comment by Dhagah Dalab — May 19, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Good ideat indeed.Me be problem now but it will be coming as soon as a havey softwear service coming.
Comment by a-sadoon — May 19, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
"Wouldn’t this cause ridiculous bandwidth issues?" Not if most/all of the video went peer-to-peer.
Comment by Facebook User — May 20, 2009 @ 11:05 am
hola quiero desir que quiero ser tu amigo
Comment by cristian camilo — May 20, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
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!
Comment by Danny — May 22, 2009 @ 8:39 am
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.
Comment by John Anderson — July 22, 2009 @ 10:11 am
I want chat video in my facebook page>>>>>
Comment by Zocorro Mejia — July 23, 2009 @ 8:43 am
tsdjjjjjjjjjycrli7i8az2q34drfdygfku99kllnjvtcea\rrecrrvf8nuth7trbfvtweyjvjmwetast,ik8is7ydfcvevwqxF\ZDFGTIO.DT
Comment by Syed Mubeen — September 28, 2009 @ 11:12 am
@mik: its probably going to be ajax / jsfl… there is no way they could do it solely using js
Comment by MDS — October 1, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
Think its a must if FB is going to survive, should have already been incorperated when facebook was lunched
Comment by Brian — October 23, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
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……..
Comment by Brian Baker — October 23, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
when facebook was launched it didn't even have profile pictures, and you couldn't send messages…
Comment by jeff harvick — November 16, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
ciao a tutti
Comment by Jimmy Jacko — February 23, 2010 @ 2:03 am
In fact, there is already working facebook video chat on http://apps.facebook.com/onconference
Comment by Jozef Chutka — March 7, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
What up
Comment by Juna Jhunaedhie — March 26, 2010 @ 1:11 am
welll come………….
Comment by Roshan Chintha — June 16, 2010 @ 8:41 am
If Facebook prepares to launch a video chat Dlinked.com has already made this functionality built in for every user. As a reminder Dlinked is coming soon in July of this year after two years of development.
Comment by Dlinked — June 17, 2010 @ 5:41 pm
best
Comment by Mohamed Nour — June 23, 2010 @ 4:52 am
hellow………….
Comment by Rainz Espiel — July 3, 2010 @ 10:54 am
so………………goog@
Comment by Dan Nan — July 11, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
Please Do it fasttttttttttttttt !!!
Comment by SHAHNAWAZ SHAIKH — July 15, 2010 @ 8:17 am
FaceBook Video Chat
Public Chat Room / Only Friends Chat Room / Private Chat / Random Chat / You can view 6 friends' cams at the same time!
all at http://facebook.com/FBVideoChat
Comment by Tim — July 28, 2010 @ 9:52 am
onStream – The Broadcasting Machine on Facebook
http://apps.facebook.com/onstream
Comment by Jozef Chutka — July 29, 2010 @ 4:05 am
hi
Comment by aamir farooq — February 10, 2011 @ 4:26 am
I want chat video in my facebook page
Comment by pradyut — April 9, 2011 @ 7:45 am
Enter text right here!
Comment by Nâfhâñ Shêrôñ — April 11, 2011 @ 12:57 pm
Enter text right here!
Comment by Osama Hassan — April 15, 2011 @ 9:56 am
Hey sup people?
Comment by Landyn — June 15, 2011 @ 3:30 pm
hye….
Comment by eika — June 25, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
how to use it??
Comment by eika — June 25, 2011 @ 12:43 pm
There are alot of 'garbage' (nude idiots) on video chat sites, so Facebook might be better off to spend alittle more time researching this before launching it. Because if it turns out to be used negatively by some, it can really ruin their image – like what happened to MySpace. So think twice before going ahead with it FB.
Comment by Andrew — July 2, 2011 @ 2:35 pm
Great! Thanks! It works.
Comment by Andrew — July 2, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
nice
one facebook your still numero uno .. more features to come..
phil.
Comment by brien barrion — July 9, 2011 @ 8:34 am
Hi Bryan could you please tell me the free apps for facebook vedio calling on my computer? thank you
Comment by Glenda — July 9, 2011 @ 11:41 pm
hello I want to be your friend desir, would provide a backlink to my blog?
Comment by Blog Car Asia — August 13, 2011 @ 1:41 am
Thanks For Informations this..
, Nice To Meet you
Comment by Sandy Prayoga — August 13, 2011 @ 1:42 am
I was waiting for it for too long that when facebook will launch video chat. And i am very thankful to facebook for launching video chat. It is very helpful for development services.
Comment by culline59 — October 5, 2011 @ 7:58 am
wow from this post I get good info again
Comment by Rainforest — November 30, 2011 @ 2:48 am
I love facebook since it's a great technology!!!!
Comment by technology Blog — February 11, 2012 @ 4:49 am