If you're one of the people who makes calls with Meta's Messenger app, its latest update adds a bunch of new features for making video and audio calls, according to <a target="_blank" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/11/introducing-ai-backgrounds-noise-suppression-and-more-messenger-calling/” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:the official Meta blog;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>.
When you make a video call, you can add an ai-generated background to your screen by tapping the effects icon in the sidebar and selecting “Backgrounds.” So instead of showing your friends and family your dirty apartment or your car that you haven't cleaned since you bought it, you can replace the background with a field of sunflowers or a strange landscape as one of its suns sets. That's something we've seen on basically every other video calling platform, so it's not a big surprise to see Meta add it here.
Meta also added some new features for video calling, including high-definition video, background noise suppression, and voice isolation “to help you make clearer, higher-quality calls directly from Messenger,” according to the blog.
The HD video feature will be the default mode for Messenger calls made over Wi-Fi connections. HD calls can also be made with mobile data in the settings by turning on “Mobile data for HD video”. Background noise suppression and voice isolation can also be turned on and off in the call settings section of Messenger.
You can also leave voice and video messages for your contacts beyond a simple line of text and maybe a cheeky emoji or two. Simply tap the “record message” button at the bottom right of the screen to leave a video or audio message if the person you're contacting doesn't answer the call.
Finally, if you're not hands-free but need to make a call, iPhone users can ask Siri to make calls and messages for them in Meta's Messenger app. Simply activate Siri and say “Hey Siri, send a message to (contact name) in Messenger” and dictate the message you want to send them.
