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Firefox Hello makes video calls easier with no third-party accounts, services, or plugins (VIDEO)

Firefox Hello makes video calls easier with no third-party accounts, services, or plugins (VIDEO)

Alexandra Burlacu

Mozilla officially released Firefox 35, the latest version of its popular web browser, and one of the most exciting features is the new Firefox Hello.

The company has been working on this feature for quite some time now, and Firefox Hello is now finally ready to allow users to make video calls in an easy, hassle-free manner. Firefox Hello relies on WebRTC (Real Time Communications) and allows users to create and share video conversations without needing any third-party accounts, services, or plugins.

"Conversations should begin by video as simply as they do in person. The fact is they don't. You have to give up your email address, set up an account and share personal information as well as download software before starting to talk," Mozilla explains. "Recently, we introduced Firefox Hello, the first global communications system built directly into a browser to help make things easier."

"Today we're simplifying the call process by eliminating some steps. After locating the Hello icon in the menu bar or customization panel, simply click the 'Start a Conversation' button to create your first conversation. Now when you start a conversation, a window opens showing a self-view until the person you have invited clocks on the link and joins you. While you're waiting for them to join, you can navigate away from this call window to a website. Hello will then notify you when another party joins the room. The Hello icon will turn blue and you'll get an audio alert."

Moreover, the person you want to reach though Firefox Hello doesn't even need to use Firefox, all they need is a browser that supports WebRTC, i.e. either Chrome or Opera. Once a user starts a conversation, they will be able to email the friend they want to talk to, or copy the unique URL Mozilla mentioned and send it to the friend in question. Users can also name conversations so they can find them easier later on, reusing the same link without needing to create a new conversation each time.

Lastly, it's worth pointing out that when upgrading to the new Firefox 35, the Firefox Hello button may still hide in the Customization panel, which means you might have to look for it specifically. Also, while Firefox Hello doesn't require any user account, it does imply signing into your Firefox account. To get a better idea of how Firefox Hello works, check out the video below.

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