Facebook Snafu Shuts Down T-Mobile's Bobsled App

On the company's Facebook page, T-Mobile hinted at the problem: users to all appearances confused the Bobsled application with a Facebook-authored communication or chat application, until further notice to the point that Facebook protested.

T-Mobile somewhat surprisingly entered the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) market with Bobsled for T-Mobile on April 19. When it was live, the app only allowed users to "call" other Facebook users, engaging them in voice chat. Users can as well leave voice messages for other users, which will show up in their wall.

Roadmap for Bobsled to include video chat

But T-Mobile as well announced a roadmap for Bobsled to include video chat, to create the ability to place VoIP calls to mobile and landline U.S. numbers and to offer applications on smartphones and tablets across various mobile platforms, regardless of the carrier. T-Mobile is being acquired by AT&T.

Users don't have to download an application or log in to take a call, according to Brad Duea, the senior vice president of value-added services for T-Mobile. Calling is performed via a single click on the phone icon. However to call another user, users had to download and install software from LetsBobsled.com, the T-Mobile site.