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Facebook Messenger adds free WiFi calling in latest update (other goodies too)

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Facebook Messenger UI update

It’s a great day for app updates on Google Play, and Facebook Messenger is getting a doozy. The messaging app is now giving its users the ability to make free calls over WiFi — a feature that’s yet to even makes its way rival services like Google Hangouts on Android (iOS Hangouts actually has this feature).

Also new for version 4.0 is the new Group chatting tab, which allows users to pin groups and return to them easily in their own dedicated section. Groups can be named (similar to Skype), so you can easily keep tabs of friends, family, coworkers, or whoever else you’d like to group. Photos and messages shared in groups can also be sent to someone not in the chat with the new forwarding feature. For even quicker access to conversations, they can now be added as widgets to the homescreen.

Download this awesome new update to Facebook Messenger on the Google Play Store, just keep in mind that when away from a WiFi network, standard calling rates apply. Cheers.

Download on Google Play: Facebook Messenger

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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29 Comments

  1. Can u only call Facebook people with he WiFi calling?

    1. Yeah, they gotta have Messenger installed.

      1. Is this really wifi calling then? If you cant call a normal phone then its just app to app communication. Am I wrong here?

        1. This is how Google will 1-up Facebook Messenger (and already has on iOS).

          1. Thats what I figured. So this isnt exactly a groundbreaking addition, just facebook messenger playing catch up. So Chris, what is the feature that isnt on hangouts yet that you mentioned in the article?

          2. I gotta ask, Chris. Hangouts doesn’t seem to have a huge user base. Most people I am friends with barely know what Android is (not because they’re stupid, knowing things like this just doesn’t matter to them). They doubtlessly aren’t aware of Hangouts. What makes you use it (and Google+)? How is it better than Facebook/Skype that most people still use (or at least know about)?

          3. You have a very unique set of friends as Android devices are around 5x more popular than iOS worldwide.

        2. It’s the same as the ‘free SMS’ apps that are hugely popular that are just IM clients :/
          The unknowing audience buys into the PR bullshit.

      2. international calling to Facebook friends too?

      3. This feature was already in messenger. Like someone mentioned. I’m using press halo theme messenger and have this feature.

  2. This is great!

  3. I dont even use Facebook so this is totaly wortless for me :)

    1. Thanks for checking in! That was a “wortless” contribution to the discussion.

      1. I hope it was wortless. Don’t want worts now, do we?

      2. Btw, being snippy to someone who states that Facebook has no value to him is hardly necessary or worth anyone’s time. I’m sure it baffles you why some people use Snapchat but they enjoy it. Don’t hate, appreciate.

        1. k!

  4. Your move, Google. Time to finally give us that Google Voice + Hangouts merger complete with Voice over wifi. Don’t make me use Facebook!

    1. Who wants to see Sergey Brin from Google in a boxing match against Mark Zuckerberg?

    2. They have really been dragging their heels

  5. Have they actually made message notifications work reliably yet? I usually get about 4 out of every 5.

    1. That’s weird, I use Facebook messenger constantly and don’t have any messages get missed

      1. The actual Messenger app worked fine for me in days past but the Facebook app does have a little bit of trouble with notifications sometimes.

  6. Facebook Messenger already had WiFi calling on Android and iOS for like a year now. The only thing that came with this update is they made it easier to find.

    Proof: http://lifehacker.com/facebooks-messenger-app-now-allows-free-voip-calling-fo-476438950/all

  7. instead of coming out with useless features that you clearly can find on other apps! How bout you make a f*#!ing sign out button you f#$*ing glorified assholes!. I’m sick and tried of going to my application manager and force closing it.

    1. Sign out of Messenger? I don’t really see the point.

      1. i dont use facebook alot and prefer to sign out of the messenger instead of having it signed in all the time.

    2. But if noone uses these ‘other apps’ there’s no point. IM apps only work if your friends and family use them.

  8. They allow voip calling over cellular too right?

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