Facebook to take on Zoom with new video features

Tech giant Facebook is taking on platform-of-the-moment Zoom (ZM) by creating a new video conference version of its Messenger app called Messenger Rooms, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Friday.

The new service will allow users to host a meeting with up to 50 people at once with no time limit, Zuckerberg said in a video announcement.

Zoom's free version allows up to 100 people together, but for a maximum of 40 minutes.

Until now, Facebook/Messenger users could join group video calls, but only up to eight participants at a time.

Facebook users can now invite people to Messenger Rooms even if they don't have Facebook accounts.

The company said Messenger Rooms will feature Artificial Intelligence enabled virtual backgrounds. But Facebook's backgrounds will span 360 degrees, which Zuckerberg boasted will take the experience to "the next level".

Rooms can currently be accessed through the Messenger app or the main Facebook platform, but will soon be added to the company's other applications, including Instagram and WhatsApp. The service will be rolled out to some countries this week and expanded worldwide in the coming weeks.

(Sources: CNN Business)

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