Facebook has presented its new application, this time focused on facilitating phone calls between friends who are willing to chat.
Not just developing its existing services by offering various kinds of updates. But companies like Facebook will also present several new services to strengthen their business and increase profits.
After offering Messenger Rooms to support connected users and be able to conduct online meetings easily when COVID-19 is still circulating widely. Recently there has been offered a new application called CatchUp.
Called CatchUp, the new app is essentially Messenger Rooms for voice calls, providing the ability to see when your friends are online and ready for a voice call, as well as group chats in progress that you can join.
This application is the result of the development of the NPE Facebook team, and functions as a voice call application. Where there are a number of unique and interesting features that make users get a different experience when using this application.
According to Facebook's experimental NPE team:
Catching up has never been easier. See who's available and effortlessly join individual and group calls. Never touch the phone label or make an appointment to call someone again. Stay in touch more, think less. Every time you are free to speak, catch up!
This way, you can see who is active in the app, like Messenger, and join open group discussions, like Messenger Rooms.
It could be said to be the same as WhatsApp, where users can make 1 on 1 call or maybe in groups of up to 8 people. And CatchUp itself can also call someone using the number listed on their cellphone contact, so they don't have a FB account even though they can still be connected.
Very simple operation
Within the app, users can configure their status so that their friends know when they are ready to talk and create groups to chat. There is also an “auto availability” feature that will automatically update your status when connected via Bluetooth.
It is yet another way for people to connect, such as through Messenger, which includes the additional option of using the video as well, if desired.
As such, the only functional addition to CatchUp over Messenger is that it can see when people are specifically ready for an audio chat, so it doesn't seem like it provides enough utility for a separate app.
Still, this new Facebook application can be interesting for regions where connectivity is limited, and phone calls are the preferred means of connection, so having the option of being able to see when people are open to voice chat will be beneficial.
One interesting feature offered by the CatchUp application compared to other services is that Facebook has offered features that allow users to provide information regarding their status.
So for example when you do not want to be disturbed, then the user can change their status so that other people do not contact you except in a critical situation. Whereas the people who are available to be contacted will also be listed as ready to be contacted.
CatchUp is the sixth app launched by the Facebook NPE team
So far, Facebook's in-house R&D team has released six new apps in the past six months. Those applications are:
KIT - Provides expanded messaging options through Apple Watch.
Hobbi - Allows users to collect images of creative hobbies and clarify them on dashboards to track personal development.
Whale - Allows users to create their own memes with simplified templates and tools.
AUX - a participatory DJ app, where users try to include their song in a group playlist.
Bump - a chat application that aims to introduce students to others in your neighborhood.
And now CatchUp, facilitating the connection through voice calls.
At the moment, the CatchUp application is currently being tested in the USA for both iOS and Android.
For now, the company made by Mark Zuckerberg is still doing the testing phase. So Facebook is only temporarily presenting it in the United States on a limited basis.
But when it's finished, of course, it will be presented more broadly on Android and iOS devices. However, its presence in more countries including Indonesia seems to be still long.
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Technology