There's a pretty cool update for Messenger today. Meta has introduced FaceTime-like voicemail for phone and video calls. Facebook's calling service is also adding AI-powered video phones and Siri integration.
Apple introduced the much-requested FaceTime video messaging feature last year, and today Meta is joining the party with Messenger. Voicemail for unanswered calls is actually a new feature for both video and audio calls.
One feature that's still missing from both FaceTime and Messenger is customizable, voicemail-style messages for when you're unavailable. Other telephony features include voice isolation and background noise suppression.
Messenger also integrates heavily with Siri. Meta explains:
When your hands are full or your phone is out of reach, you can now ask Siri to help you make calls and send messages no matter where you are. Try something like, “Hey Siri, send a message to Cassandra on Messenger,” then dictate what that message will be.
Pretty cool if you make a lot of Messenger calls.
And it wouldn’t be a service update without a hint of built-in AI, right? Meta includes the ability to create AI-generated backgrounds that you can use during video calls. While FaceTime recently added custom backgrounds, we'll have to wait for Apple Intelligence and Image Playground integration.
Read more about the latest version of Messenger here.
Follow Zach: X, Bluesky, Instagram/Shop Apple on Amazon to support my work 🙏
