Skip to main content

Will Facebook battle Skype, Google Voice with VoIP calling?

Facebook has remained mum on the subject of the alleged Facebook phone, but a photo has surfaced revealing the website’s interest in other areas of communication. Multiple sources have spotted what looks like a calling function on the site.

Various users saw a “call” icon appear on their screens, and while it didn’t connect, it would explain Facebook’s interest in VoIP. Earlier this year, Skype integrated Facebook into its upgrade, and there was an incident last year where various references to the popular VoIP popped up in Facebook code. But Facebook has yet to feature Skype or any other voice chat client on its site, and that could be because it plans to do it in-house. Further possible evidence suggesting Facebook is doing this without Skype’s involvement? InsideFacebook points out that a job posting for a “Network Engineer – Voice” for the company has been removed. Still, that could be anything from a developer for the hypothetical phone software, to an in-office IT position.

Recommended Videos

Google’s own VoIP has been extremely popular, and as the two are generally pitted against each other, it would be one more arena that Facebook would compete in. It’s swiftly becoming a large-scale communication system, and will start introducing its Messages feature to more and more users in the near future. Facebook has time and time again denied the title of “e-mail killer,” but it at least should start owning up to its position as verifiable opponent – especially if (really, when) it introduces voice calling.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
AMD’s RX 9070 XT might be cheap, but that may not be enough
An Asus RX 9070 XT TUF GPU.

Over a month after the initial announcement at CES 2025 (if you can even call it an announcement), we still don't know much about the future of AMD's RDNA 4 lineup. We know the cards are set to launch sometime in March, but their specs remain a mystery. However, there's an even bigger secret that's still yet to be revealed: The pricing.

After a bumpy lead-up to the launch of the RX 9000 series, pricing is the one thing that AMD needs to get right. The latest leaks imply that AMD will price the cards "very aggressively," which could be good news -- but it might still not be enough for it to rival some of the best graphics cards.
A careful approach to pricing

Read more
Microsoft sort of brings back Menu key after Copilot backlash
The Copilot key shown on a white keyboard.

After backlash over removing the Menu key, Microsoft is possibly bringing it back in a later build—partially—to Windows keyboards, restoring some of its lost functionality, as PhantomOfEarth mentions on X (via XDA Developers). This is possible because users can remap the Copilot key to serve the same purpose.

Microsoft might allow you to remap the Copilot key to open content menus, restoring the Menu key's original functionality. In October, Microsoft introduced limited remapping of the Copilot key, but it only worked for MSIX-packaged and signed apps, offering little flexibility. Now, Microsoft could expand its functionality to provide more freedom to what the key can do for users.

Read more
OpenAI’s custom chip design is near completion
OpenAI's new typeface OpenAI Sans

OpenAI is poised to enter the custom component business in 2025. The brand is currently in talks with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to fabricate the first generation of its in-house AI-based silicon, according to an exclusive report by Reuters.

The AI start-up has plans to create custom chips to lessen its dependence on AI chips from Nvidia. Sources told Reuters that OpenAI is wrapping up the final design of its chip, which should be complete in the coming months. The company will design the chip in collaboration with Broadcom. The 40-person in-house team is spearheaded by former Google engineering lead, Richard Ho.

Read more