Shortly after Facebook launched a Messenger app for smartphones on Tuesday, early users found partial code for a video chat component tucked away inside it.
Facebook Messenger was announced in a Facebook blog as a "faster way to message on mobile" for iPhone and Android smartphones.
Shortly after the app appeared, 9-to-5 Mac reported on the video component, noting it was "very rudimentary" code.
A Facebook spokeswoman would not add much information about when or even whether the mobile video chat capability might be launched, saying in an email: "We're always working on new features, but we don't have anything to announce at this time."
Video chat from smartphones was considered hot when Apple launched the capability in iPhone 4 last year, allowing connections when each iPhone 4 user was on Wi-Fi.
More recently, Google announced the Google+ social network with Hangouts , a group video chat experience that has received great reviews but doesn't yet work for smartphones, though other parts of Google+ work with Android and iOS .
A Google spokesman confirmed via email that Google+ doesn't currently support Hangouts from mobile devices.
Shortly after Google+ appeared in June, Facebook announced a Video Calling feature for its social network powered by Skype that works from several desktop browsers .
Despite intense interest in smartphone video chat, the experience can be disappointing. Chat quality usually depends on the speed of the wireless network connection, whether it is Wi-Fi or cellular, analysts have noted. A faster cellular network, perhaps 4G, is seen by many as one way to ensure better video chats.
Facebook Messenger was announced in a Facebook blog as a "faster way to message on mobile" for iPhone and Android smartphones.
Shortly after the app appeared, 9-to-5 Mac reported on the video component, noting it was "very rudimentary" code.
A Facebook spokeswoman would not add much information about when or even whether the mobile video chat capability might be launched, saying in an email: "We're always working on new features, but we don't have anything to announce at this time."
Video chat from smartphones was considered hot when Apple launched the capability in iPhone 4 last year, allowing connections when each iPhone 4 user was on Wi-Fi.
More recently, Google announced the Google+ social network with Hangouts , a group video chat experience that has received great reviews but doesn't yet work for smartphones, though other parts of Google+ work with Android and iOS .
A Google spokesman confirmed via email that Google+ doesn't currently support Hangouts from mobile devices.
Shortly after Google+ appeared in June, Facebook announced a Video Calling feature for its social network powered by Skype that works from several desktop browsers .
Despite intense interest in smartphone video chat, the experience can be disappointing. Chat quality usually depends on the speed of the wireless network connection, whether it is Wi-Fi or cellular, analysts have noted. A faster cellular network, perhaps 4G, is seen by many as one way to ensure better video chats.
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