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Who's That? Facebook Messenger Adds 'Caller ID'

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Do you have so many friends on Facebook that sometimes you forget who they are? Me neither, but some people are super popular and need a reminder about whether they're talking to Matt from work, Matt from college, or Matt from the bar last weekend.

For those folks, Facebook is adding "caller ID" for Facebook Messenger. Now, when someone contacts you on the chat app, Facebook will display a larger photo and identifying information.

In a screen shot posted by Facebook's David Marcus, Messenger displayed info like hometowns ("Also from Myrtle Beach, SC"), occupation, and current location.

Facebook Messenger Caller ID

As TechCrunch noted, the move hints at Facebook's effort to connect you with people beyond your existing circle of friends. "The younger generation seems less dedicated to LinkedIn, which feels like it's lagging behind when it comes to mobile and messaging. Facebook might be happy to fill in," the blog said.

This is not to be confused with Facebook's standalone "Hello" caller ID app, which connects with Facebook to tell you who's calling on the phone—even if you don't have their number saved in your phone.

When someone calls your phone, the Hello app will show you their name and photo along with other information like their work title, birthday, and whether you have any mutual friends—to help you decide whether to pick up or press ignore.

For now, however, Hello is only available on Android.

Everyone else can busy themselves with Messenger, which Facebook pulled out of the main Facebook app last year. Anyone who wants to chat on their phones now has to have Messenger installed. It's still available on the desktop and via the standalone Messenger site, though.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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