Following the launch of its Portal video chat device last week, Facebook has now added YouTube to the list of third-party apps that users can download onto it.
Despite what Facebook might think, its Portal video chat device won’t make it if users can only use it to chat with each other. Apart from its use as a great piece of hardware, Portal will need lots of good software to complement it.
That’s possibly also why Facebook has added YouTube to the list of apps that users can download to the device.
Portal already has Amazon Alexa inside, and several other apps like Spotify, iHeartRadio and Food Network, and that makes total sense if Facebook wants to compete in the smart speaker market.
The inclusion of YouTube and other third-party apps in the near future is a strategy that Facebook really need to develop as it will help boost the device’s features and show off its hardware capabilities.
YouTube’s addition also provides flexibility and more choice to consuming video on the device. Up until now, users could only watch on Facebook Watch, Food Network, and Newsy. Additionally, it will also bring Portal closer in competition to smart displays.
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