Facebook Messenger for iOS is a handy way to message and keep in touch with your Facebook contacts – but thanks to a recent update, it now serves as a way to make free VoIP audio calls as well! As noted by The Verge, Apple initially tested the feature with Canadian users, but has now officially rolled it out throughout the U.S. as well.
Apparently, the test went well — a new free calling button has appeared in the app. Facebook has confirmed to The Verge that the feature began rolling out to US users today, and requires no update through the App Store. To make a call to another Messenger for iPhone user, all you need to do is open a conversation with that person, tap the “i” button in the top-right corner, and tap Free Call.
The app still does not support video calling, as available through the website, but it’s still a strong step forward – especially if you have Facebook friends that live outside of the country. It serves as a great substitute for making international phone calls, which otherwise could get very expensive very quickly.
Best of all, the update does NOT require an App Store update – Facebook has automatically added the feature through their backend. If you haven’t tried Facebook Messenger yet, now woud be a great time to check it out by downloading it from the App Store!
Enjoy your free voice calls!
