Facebook Messenger application now allows to make voice calls for the United States accounts

This month, Facebook updated the Messenger app for iOS with beta support for VoIP calls between Facebook accounts. This feature was originally limited to Canadian iOS accounts but now is being opened to all United States accounts, reports The Verge.

To get access to voice calls, open the Facebook Messenger app, next to chat with another person and click the "i" button in the top right corner. If the function has been activated, and another user has installed Facebook app for iOS, Messenger must show "free call" button. Facebook will extend the feature to all users over the next few days.

"What this means is that if you live in the US, you can now call other Facebook users for free over Wi-Fi or using your phone's data connection while you're on the go. When you call someone, a push notification appears on their screen that says "Ellis Hamburger is calling," for example. The feature is especially critical for people with bad cell service at work or at home, and for those who want to conserve cell phone minutes. It's also a huge step for Facebook — which with a single feature emerges as one of the largest communities of VoIP users in the world. Yes, competitors Viber, Vonage, and Skype have had the feature for some time, but all have much smaller user bases."

Facebook's efforts to establish a system of calls may increase the number of potential users at more than 1 billion users, providing great competition with other VoIP services such as Skype. The system also allows teenagers make phone calls to friends via Facebook applications with iPod touch. Facebook Messenger for iPhone is available for free download in the App Store.