Facebook Messenger is getting a big feature today. The update, which is being rolled out globally today, will bring group calling to the instant messaging app. The service will be available for free on Android and iOS apps.

The procedure to start a group voice call is pretty simple. You just need to open the group chat and click on the call button. The app will ask you to select the group members you would like to call, and once that’s done, all selected people will get the call notification simultaneously.

If someone couldn’t receive the initial call, but the call is still in progress, the person can join in later by tapping the phone icon in the group chat. The caller can see the active participants of the call and ping anyone who has not joined or got disconnected.

There’s a limit of 50 active participants in one group call, which is more than enough. Group calling isn’t a common feature amongst Messenger’s competitors and there are only a few popular services which offer this feature.

Facebook started offering VOIP calling back in 2013 and released the feature for all Facebook users in April 2014. Messenger was used for 10 percent of global calls in 2015 and this new group calling feature puts it close to any regular calling service available over GSM networks. A Messenger spokesperson said “There are situations where typing isn’t enough and when people prefer talking to one another.”

Group video calling, however, is still not here yet. It is expected to be released eventually and Facebook executives have confirmed it as well.

Messenger aims to completely replace the regular phone number one day and be used as the go to method of communication. Strangers can talk on Facebook since last year as well.

However, Messenger does hold an added functionality. While blocking regular phone numbers is difficult or costs money, blocking some stranger on Facebook is simple and free. Harassing someone is very difficult on Facebook if you know the options available to you.

There is still some way to go before Messenger’s group calling can overtake Skype as the professional method for long-distance video communication. Video calling and auto-mute for group conversations would definitely put it up there with Skype. The rise of the platform is definitely unquestionable as Facebook has over 1.5 billion users and Messenger has 900 million users. These numbers are Messenger’s greatest strength over its competitors as well.

Last year Microsoft had brought web version of Skype which lets us get straight to our Skype conversations from any computer. Skype for Web is great whether we are using a shared computer that doesn’t have Skype downloaded, or just prefer using a web version instead of a downloaded app.

Here, we are listing some new features added to Skype

Now we can save money on our phone calls to mobile phones and landlines. All we need is a little Skype credit or a subscription to start making affordable international calls from Skype. Once we have signed in to Skype for Web, simply click on the call phones tab, select destination, dial the number you’d like to call and then hit the call button.

Now URLs show up in Skype for Web will also include an image from the webpage. Additionally, if someone posts a YouTube video link in Skype for Web, we’ll be able to watch it directly in Skype. We get all the same volume and full-screen controls as we have in YouTube, but we can't open a new browser window to watch the video—it’ll instantly play directly in Skype.

One of the most exciting features recently launched to Skype for Windows desktop users is a new way to add people to a Skype chat.Now we can create a chat with anyone by pressing +New and then ‘Share conversation.’ We’ll then give you a unique conversation URL that you can share however you want. Best of all, we don’t even need to know if they already use Skype because they can join our conversation as a guest using Skype for Web.

A new feature notifications is added to Skype for Web, so that we’ll never miss an important IM or call. As long as we’re signed into Skype for Web, we’ll receive notifications.

In mid-January, Skype announced that an integration for Slack was already available, which allows a team that uses slack to make a Skype call from a computer.

"At Skype, we are committed to breaking down communication barriers and getting the world talking," the Skype team said. "This is why we make Skype available on multiple platforms and continue to explore more ways to help you stay connected. Today we're releasing a preview version of Skype integration for Slack that lets teams on Slack easily make a Skype voice or video call and reach conclusions faster."

The Multi-Billion-Dollar Bid

But a report details a rumor that could have potentially taken the relation between the two tech companies a step further from a mere integration on their respective communication platforms to an actual acquisition.

As described in the report, Microsoft, which owns Skype via a 2011 acquisition amounting to a whopping $8.5 billion, had set its sights on rival Slack and was willing to shell out almost the same sum of money at $8 billion just to acquire the company. But, before the bidding talks could gain more ground, the proposition was nipped in the bud by no less than two of the tech giant's top brass, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and CEO Satya Nadella.

Bill Gates Disapproves

If the chairman and CEO emeritus of the Redmond-based tech company had his way, he would rather have the company invest more with Skype and improve its features and services, as opposed to acquiring yet another business-software company.

It was actually Microsoft's EVP of applications and services, Qi Lu, who spearheaded the rumored acquisition bid of Slack. He was the one in-charge of all productivity, communications, education, search and other information services at Microsoft, Tech Crunch noted.

The Slack Appeal
Slack, which is regarded as one of the fastest-rising apps today, has gotten the attention of not just the tech giant, but a number of other companies. Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield said that the company has looked past about eight to 10 acquisition offers in the past, according to a Yahoo Finance report.

And who wouldn't want to have Slack on board with its 2.3 million monthly active users and a potential revenue of $64 million per year? The last valuation of the tech company pegged its value at $2.8 billion, thanks to a $160 million round of funding in April of 2015. And, with a new round of funding set to come in, the value could raise somewhere from $4 billion to $5 billion.

According to the Skype blog post, making this announcement, the feature should be available globally by March.Some of the features of this new update include HD quality video calling, group video calls, flexible interface which lets you choose your preferred view, and inviting anyone to a call.