Facebook is testing a feature in Canada allowing iOS users to make voice calls over Wifi or a cellular connection using its Messenger app. Like Skype, the service is based on VoIP, and it's similar to Google Talk. It could be rolled out worldwide if it takes off in Canada, although right now, it only works for Canadian users making calls within the country. Users simply tap the 'i' button in the top right h ...

Bringing together two services beloved by every teenager, Facebook may be about to buy messaging service Whatsapp. There's no more detail at present, just a confirmation to TechCrunch from sources within the companies. The WhatsApp messaging service is a lot like BlackBerry Messenger, and currently handles more than a billion messages a day for users in over 100 countries. It runs on several operating ssyte ...

Two US privacy groups are calling on Facebook to scrap its plans to do away with user votes on policy changes. Until now, users have been able to vote on any proposed change to the site that gets more than 7,000 comments. If more than 30 percent vote against, the amendment's scrapped. But Facebook last week announced plans to get rid of the user voting system, saying that it has become just too unwieldy. Wi ...

Sometime today, if you're a Facebook user, you'll get an email from the company asking you to vote away your right to vote on the company's governance. Until now, if proposed changes to the site have attracted more than 7,000 comments, users get a chance to vote on them - and if more than 30 percent take part and vote against, the change is scrapped. Now, though, Facebook wants to abandon this vote. "We dee ...

Facebook's made a big expansion to its Gifts service, teaming up with retailers and service providers from babyGap to ProFlowers. Users can also give subscriptions to services such as Hulu Plus, Pandora, Rdio and others. And wine will also soon be on the menu, from Robert Mondavi Winery and Chandon. These vendors join more than 100 already on Facebook's books. The reason for the timing of this expansion is ...

Wall Street has kissed and made up with Facebook, which has reported strong third quarter revenue, particularly in the mobile arena. The company's shares showed their biggest rise since the company's badly-managed IPO back in May, jumping 19 percent to $23.23 at yesterday's close. The reason for the enthusiasm is Facebook's big boost in revenues, up 32 percent at $1.26 billion, and well above analysts' expe ...

If you find that none of your friends is taking any notice of your Facebook posts, you may decide to try and make them less boring. But US users now have an alternative - pay Facebook to shove your news right under your friends' noses. The company's expanding its Promoted Posts, first tried in New Zealand in May, into the US. It works on the same principle as its Promoted Posts for businesses. "Every day, n ...

This Christmas, Facebook hopes, we'll all be swapping gifts using a new service allowing users to send pressies to their friends. With users already sending birthday messages by the million, the idea is to leverage the purchase of gift software Karma earlier this year and start competing with e-commerce sites. The company's rolling Facebook Gifts out gradually, starting with a few US cities. So far, it's on ...

Facebook's cracking down on fake 'Likes', with an update to its system designed to automatically detect and remove them. The company's acknowledging the fact that many millions of fake profiles are in existence, 'Liking' pages and brands. They come in a variety of ways: malware, compromised accounts, deceived users and purchased bulk Likes. In July, as part of an investigation, the BBC set up a fake bagel b ...

Facebook's launching a gambling site that allows users to stake real money - but only in the UK. Bingo & Slots Friendzy has been developed by online gambling company Gamesys, which operates Sun Bingo, Heart Bingo and Jackpotjoy.com. It's the first ever cash gambling app on Facebook. "Play our 90 Ball Bingo games and enjoy exciting features like community progressive jackpots, cash bonus games and extra ...