Facebook’s Instagram to soon have this new feature

After Facebook has confirmed that it will launch a dating feature to the social network, it has also announced its apps will have new features too.

Instagram is testing a new feature that lets users make video calls, it has been confirmed.

The new functionality will be rolled out globally soon, and the more than 100 million users of the photo-sharing platform will have the option to chat one-on-one or with a small group. 

“In the coming weeks, we’ll bring video chat to Instagram and give friends a new way to spend time together – even when they aren’t actually together,” the company said on its official blog.

“To start a video chat, simply tap the new camera icon at the top of a Direct thread. You can chat one-on-one or with a small group – and you can keep the conversation going for as long as you like. You can also minimize the video and continue the chat while doing other things on Instagram,” the blog said regarding the functionality of the upcoming feature.

According to a source, the feature will also be available to users in the UAE, but with issues around voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), it remains to be seen whether or not Instagram’s video call function will suffer the same fate as that of WhatsApp or Facetime and Skype.

So far, only two applications, C’Me and BOTIM have the license to offer video calling services to residents in the UAE. However, this may change soon as according to reports, the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has been in talks with Apple and Microsoft for the possible lifting of the ban on FaceTime and Skype.

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Instagram has also unveiled other updates that are geared towards making the user experience more fun and exciting. From today (Wednesday), IG fans can start sharing their favorite action shots directly from their GoPro app starting onto their Instagram stories.

Another feature being tested is the redesigned Explore. This feature lets users view content in a more organized and easier manner.

As for WhatsApp, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that people have already used some 2 billion minutes of one-on-one video calling on the messaging service, so it’s set to roll out group video chats in the coming months.

Again, there’s no word on just how many users will be supported simultaneously; it’ll be interesting to see how the app’s interface handles call requests and invites, especially for groups with plenty of members.

With that, Facebook has three apps (Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger) vying to be your weapon of choice for connecting with your contacts, and they’re starting to feel somewhat similar. That’s not a bad thing yet – but hopefully, these products will continue to be able to offer distinctly differentiated experiences in the future – or there won’t be a reason to keep more than any one of them on your phone.