You can now make free video and voice calls directly from your Web browser without having to set up an account, thanks to Mozilla.
The browser maker on Tuesday introduced Firefox 35, which includes the new Hello video-calling feature first introduced in beta this past October. You'll see the new Hello icon in the menu bar and in the customization panel; simply click the button labeled "Start a conversation" to begin chatting with someone.
When you start a conversation, a new window will open showing a self-view until the other person clicks the link to join you. While you're waiting for the other person to pick up the call, you can navigate away from the video chat window to a different website, and Hello will notify you when your friend has joined the room.
Each conversation will use a unique URL, and you can create multiple conversations and name them for different occasions. Mozilla said this should make it easier to go back to the people you speak to regularly without having to create a new link each time.
"This can all be done without the need for setting up an account or giving up any of your personal information," the Mozilla team wrote in a blog post Tuesday. "You might label one conversation '121' for your weekly check-in with a co-worker and another 'Family time' for your regular family catch-up. Your saved conversations will always be there when you need them."
The person on the other end of the line doesn't even have to be using Firefox. The service lets you connect with those using Chrome and Opera as well.
You can also sign in with a Firefox account so contacts will know you're online, and import additional contacts to your Hello address book from Google. To do so, select "Import Contacts" from the address book then sign into your Google account to give permission.
Mozilla has been developing Hello with Spanish telecom giant Telefónica, and said it's just getting started. "As we look to expand Firefox Hello into a comprehensive tool for communicating over the Web, we'll be testing new features like screen sharing and online collaboration so people can be more productive and get the most out of their video calls," the team wrote.
Meanwhile, Firefox 35 has a number of other fresh features and improvements, like a new search user interface and access to the Firefox Marketplace from the Tools menu. The Firefox Marketplace offers all kinds of apps to let you customize your browser. For a full list of changes, check out Mozilla's release notes.
For more on Firefox Hello, check out the video below. Also see Which Browser is Best? Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Internet Explorer and PCMag's Firefox tips in the slideshow above.