Facebook Messenger brings screen sharing to mobile

As video conferencing tools become necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, companies work to add more and more features to their offerings. For its part, Facebook is introducing screen sharing to its iOS and Android apps, allowing you to share whatever it is you want to on your phone. It's available for up eight people on the main app or up to 16 people using Messenger Rooms. Facebook is working to bring screen sharing for up to 50 participants—which is the maximum number of people on a Messenger Rooms call—and allow Room creators to decide if screen share can just be limited to them or be available to all participants. Screen sharing is also available on Messenger Rooms on the web and desktop.

Screen sharing is rolling out globally with the latest versions of Messenger's Android and iOS apps, desktop app, and web version.

Instagram adds support for Facebook Messenger Rooms, letting you chat with up to 50 people

It looks like Facebook wants to get as many people using Messenger Rooms as possible. While there are still hints that it is coming to WhatsApp, Instagram rolls out the integration officially. Facebook Messenger Rooms allow users to chat with up to photo people on a single video call. What the integration means is you can create Messenger Rooms through Instagram, before it takes you to Facebook Messenger. 

If this feature interests you, then you can access it through the Direct Messages section of Instagram. When you're in the part of the app, select the video camera icon on the top right-hand corner. At the top of the list, you'll see Create a Room option with a description that says, "Send a Link to video chat with anyone, even if they don't have Instagram." And then it'll prompt you to select the blue "Create Room as (your name)" at the bottom of the screen. From there, you can choose the people from Instagram you want to invite and press Send. You can then opt to Join Room. In the same window, you can get a link to the Room to share with the people you want to join your chat.

WhatsApp tests feature that suggest users use Messenger Rooms for video calls with many participants

As you may or may not know, WhatsApp video calls can now support up to eight people in one call. But if you want a lot more people, parent company Facebook has its solution: giving WhatsApp users the option to use Messenger Rooms, which supports up to 50 people in one call. WABetaInfo spotted the feature in the latest version of the WhatsApp Web Client after having found something similar in the beta version of the Android app, which strongly suggests Facebook is working on this integration.

The shortcut shows up in the paper clip menu as well as on the main menu of the web client. After clicking on it, it'll let you know that you will be redirected to Messenger Rooms. The app does also warn you that Messenger calls aren't end-to-end encrypted like WhatsApp calls. According to The Next Web, the feature doesn't work yet, but if you're looking to host bigger WhatsApp group calls, this might be a good addition for you—as long as you're okay with the lack of encryption.

Facebook takes on Zoom with Messenger Rooms

Facebook hopes to take on Zoom and its ability to host video calls involving large groups of people with its new Messenger Rooms feature. And like Zoom, participants won't need to have a Facebook account to join. Users can host video chats with up to 50 people, and those without Facebook accounts will receive a link to the Room a Facebook user has created and then be redirected to a browser window. For Rooms created through a Facebook Group are open by default to Group members.

If you use the Messenger app to join a Zoom, you can use AR effects as well as new features like immersive backgrounds and mood lighting. The one who creates the Room gets to choose who can see and join the chat. They can remove anyone from the call at any time or lock the Room if they don't want anyone else to join. Participants can leave anytime they want, too. Messenger Rooms have no time limit whatsoever.

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