Messenger is full of new features with its latest update! On the program: the addition of an answering machine, AI-generated wallpapers, improved call quality and Siri integration.
If it had its hour of glory, in particular thanks to the fact that it is closely linked to Facebook and Instagram, Messenger, Meta’s instant messaging service, is showing the weight of the years. Above all, it suffers from the comparison with WhatsApp, the American group’s other messaging service, bought around ten years ago, which is more popular than ever. Also, Mark Zuckerberg’s company is increasing updates to catch up. Last April, Messenger welcomed a whole range of new functions, such as sending HD photos, creating shared albums within group discussions and the possibility of sharing large files (see our article).
Meta is at it again since the company announced, in a blog post released on Wednesday, November 20, a new update which adds a number of new functions. If some are anecdotal, others are frankly useful, like the answering machine for voice calls. In fact, worldwide, users spend more than 7 billion minutes of calls on Facebook and Messenger every day. “That’s why we’re announcing new messaging features.”explains the company, which promises calls “easier, more reliable and more fun.”
Messenger answering machine: greatly improved video calls
The undeniable new feature is the answering machine, which allows you to leave audio or video messages for your contacts when they do not respond. To do this, simply press the “Save message” button. Depending on whether you are calling by voice or video, the application will allow you to leave a short message in the format of your choice. A similar feature was rolled out by Apple on FaceTime last year.
During video calls, Messenger allows you to add a background image. With this update, Meta now allows it to be generated by the Meta AI artificial intelligence. To do this, simply click on the effects icon in the sidebar of your next video call and select “Backgrounds”, and then describe the desired image in a text query.
In addition to this, call quality improves. The latter now benefit from an ambient noise cancellation and voice isolation function. Likewise, the HD video calling option is enabled by default for Wi-Fi calls. It is possible to do the same for calls made via the 4G or 5G cellular network by enabling the feature in the settings call.
Finally, on iOS, Messenger can now communicate with Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, to ask it to send a message or make a call, so you don’t have to touch the device. Some of these new features are already available – such as call optimization options – while others – such as voice and visual messaging – should arrive very soon, if not not already the case.