App Brings Voice to Facebook

Facebook users who have been instant messaging, poking, and friending each other are now able to use the social network to communicate via plain old voice phone calls - with a service provided by Natick-based company Vivox Inc.

Vivox said yesterday that it was partnering with wireless service T-Mobile to offer users a free "voice chat" Facebook application. The service, called "Bobsled," lets users initiate phone calls with their Facebook friends with a click of the mouse.

"This is a big move for Facebook because it adds voice to their platform," said Larry Hettick, an analyst at the technology firm Current Analysis, based in Sterling, Va. "It's as well significant for consumers, because it allows them to stay inside Facebook and use their friends list to make calls."

For Vivox, the deal with T-Mobile is one of its largest partnerships to date. Until now, Vivox's innovation, which is built on "voice over Internet protocol," or VOIP, has been used primarily by computer gamers to talk to fellow gamers. The company says it has 52 million users through its partners just as Sony and Electronic Arts.

Rob Seaver, chief executive of Vivox, said that Vivox and other companies have experimented with enabling voice communications on Facebook, nevertheless yesterday's launch was "by a long shot the most seamless integration."

"Our vision has always been to make it easy for consumers," he said, "and this is a huge step towards a goal we've been driving towards: giving voice to social networking."

Computer-based phone services like Skype and Google Voice as well use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) research to connect computer users, nevertheless Bobsled integrates that functionality with users' existing list of Facebook friends.

The Bobsled app

After downloading the Bobsled app, Facebook users can make calls to recipients even if they don't as well have the app installed. The service, which requires that users' computers have either a microphone and speakers, or a headset, as well supports voicemail if the recipient doesn't pick up. Bobsled will in the end include enhancements just as video chat, and the ability to call outside Facebook and connect with cellphones and landlines, according to the companies.

"This is more about adding functionality to Facebook in other words than cannibalizing other services," Hettick said. "This is not going to cause anyone to throw away his cellphone or landline."

Communications provider

"T-Mobile is a communications provider, so we are all about making it easy for people to talk wherever they are," said Brad Duea, senior vice president, T-Mobile USA. "With more than 500 million users on the Internet, Facebook is a natural platform for us."