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Facebook Brings Video Chat Into Mainstream

But lots of tech writers pointing out that Google got there first

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 6, 2011 4:02 PM CDT

(Newser) – Some quick reactions to Facebook's announcement about incorporating video calling from Skype into the site:

  • Andrew Tarantola, Gizmodo: "By integrating video calling directly into the Facebook experience they're able to drop this technology directly into the mainstream. You thought getting Friend Requests from your parents was a hassle? Then you're going to love explaining to your mom why you don't love her enough to accept her video chat requests."
  • Verne G. Kopytoff, New York Times: "To a certain extent, Facebook is playing catch-up," writes Kopytoff, noting the recent launch of the Google+ feature Hangouts. "The new Facebook service does not allow for group video chats, for example. It also is not available on mobile phones, unlike Skype’s ordinary service."

  • Fast Company: "Facebook's pushing it as being more simple, stripped down, easy to use than Google+'s Hangout (Only one-on-one for now, though) Stay tuned."
  • Jason Kincaid, TechCrunch: "So why is this a big deal? Facebook emphasized the fact that users will not have to create new Skype accounts to make calls, and that this will allow users to call their friends and family with a very minimal amount of setup (the flow for installing the applet only took a few seconds)."

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, left, watches a demonstration of Video Chat during an announcement at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., Wednesday, July 6, 2011.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, left, watches a demonstration of Video Chat during an announcement at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., Wednesday, July 6, 2011.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, right, and Skype CEO Tony Bates.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, right, and Skype CEO Tony Bates.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talks about Group Chat and Video Calling.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talks about Group Chat and Video Calling.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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Here is the ad for the Video Calling service.   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
vendetta
Jul 7, 2011 8:08 AM CDT
This technology has been around for a decade. Fail facebook.
Jetmorrison
Jul 6, 2011 4:13 PM CDT
Yeah whoo hoo facebook. The only "unique" thing you a have brought to the table here is eliminating the stranger danger of chatroulette. Now i can awakardly avoid video conversation with people i am not sure i want to talk to on my facebook.   SKype, Yahoo, Msn, Gmail, and AIM all have video chat capability have have for years and years in some instances. With the added benefit of not having my mom on my buddy list! 
 

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