Voice Calls to Outside Phones via Skype Coming to Facebook

Facebook's new video call feature is a logical one for the social network and is long overdue. But what Facebook unveiled today is just the first step, not only because it's less than what Google+ Hangouts offer, but because several other features and extensions are obvious.

One of the first to come at a later date is calling phones from Facebook.

When Facebook will implement this, users will be able to click on phone numbers inside the social network and start a call, like they would from Skype.

Both companies have confirmed that they're working on the feature, but there is no clear schedule for when this will happen.

One thing that is for sure is that it will cost money to make voice calls to phones, just like it does in Skype.

Again, the details of this aren't available, the two companies probably haven't even come to terms yet, but one interesting and, again, logical move would be to use Facebook Credits for this.

For now, Skype will be powering Facebook's one-on-one video chat. This alone is expected to create a big surge in traffic for Skype. Of course, it uses a P2P technology, so it should scale easily.

But there are plenty of other things that Facebook and Skype could and might do in the future. Mobile support is almost a given. Group video chat is another thing that the two companies are surely thinking about.

Google+ Hangouts' touted feature is the group setting. Skype does offer group video chat, but only for paying customers. Facebook will have to do it for free as well if it wants to compete.

But one of the first and most obvious moves is still phone voice calls. It could also prove a big revenue boost for Skype and a more modest one for Facebook.