From today with Facebook you can make free phone calls to friends using an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet (i.e. iPhone or iPad), through the Facebook Messenger application . The latest update of this application has also brought to Italy the function of free voice calls to friends and relatives who are registered on Facebook and who have registered their mobile phone number on the profile.
After trying it, I can really say that Facebook now becomes an alternative to Skype (which is still better and more versatile), at least for free calls (while for normal ones to Skype landlines it remains number one).
The main advantage is the possibility of making calls to people who live in other countries, even when you travel and at any time using the app that is installed on your tablet or mobile phone.
The call is VoIP then via the internet and is free, in the sense that you do not spend phone credit and there are no costs.
The only prerequisite is to connect to the internet from your smartphone (or a wifi network from which to connect with a mobile phone or tablet) and then, using Facebook Messenger for Android and iPhone, you can call friends who are connected.
Calls can only be made between users who have the Facebook Messenger app installed on their device (not just the standard Facebook app).
In the new version of the application, when you select a contact to chat, you can press the handset button on the top right to call that person for free.
If you don't see the Messenger icon on a photo of a contact and if the call button is colored gray, that friend does not have the Facebook Messenger app active.
The free call can be made both on Wi-Fi network and in data connection.
From 2016 it is also possible to make group calls, up to 50 people together in a single conference call.
To make group calls, just open a group chat and then press the handset key to choose who to include in the phone call or voice call.
With Facebook Messenger, remember, you can also send recorded audio messages.
