<p>Facebook's next messaging move is all about voice. Today it released an update for its standalone Messenger for iOS and Android apps that lets users send up to one-minute voice messages. It's also testing open source VoIP calling between Canadian iOS Messenger users that runs over a user's existing data plan. Both power hands-free communication between friends, which helps drivers and reduces mobile typing.</p><p>The updates to the apps should be available in the app stores later today.Social Voicemail</p><p>Most people hate voicemail so it may seem curious that Facebook is adding voice messaging to Messenger. Even with visual voice mail, many say they simply never listen to their cell phone's answering machine. But most voicemail is just a longwinded way of saying "call me back." Facebook sees a new opportunity in making voice messaging a seamless part of a conversation, not a replacement or a bridge to it.</p><p>With voice messaging in Messenger, you open a conversation (new or existing) and are shown a red "record" button. Similar to Facebook Poke's video recording interface, you press and hold the button, talk or record a sound up to one minute in length, and then release the button to stop recording. You can then send the audio message, which appears in the conversation stream as a little wave form that can be listened to. Voice messages will also be available for listening from the web interface.</p><p><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/03/facebook-voice-messaging/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://mashable.com/2013/01/03/facebook-voice-messaging/">Facebook Adds Voice Messaging to Its Messenger App</a> (Mashable)</p><p><a href="http://www.webpronews.com/facebook-messenger-now-supports-voice-messaging-voip-calling-in-canada-2013-01">Facebook Messenger Now Supports Voice Messaging, VoIP Calling in Canada</a> (WebProNews)</p><p><a href="http://www.slashgear.com/facebook-adds-free-voice-messaging-and-limited-voip-to-messenger-app-03262983/">Facebook adds free Voice Messaging and limited VoIP to Messenger app</a> (SlashGear)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=delOu3YMb6OS_8Mbaw1V2yzkO-kJM&ned=us">61 additional articles.</a></p>