Facebook announced today that they are adding video to their online chat program through a partnership with Skype and it’s available today.
Users who want to add the new feature must download a quick Java file by visiting the video chat page. A new video icon will then appear in chat windows that you simply click and it will connect you via video to that person. The idea behind the feature is to make it simple to operate and easy for non-technical users to participate in video chat. There is no need to create a Skype account as the feature works alongside your existing facebook account.
“No separate accounts, no separate websites to go to,” Philip Su said. “The download is small and easy.”
This feature appears to be part of a larger project happening at Facebook to compete head on with Apple’s Facetime video conferencing application, with rumours swirling about a new Facebook web application dubbed ‘Project Spartan’ that will be released for all mobile and tablet devices later this year.
