Does Facebook Portal Work with Zoom?

For online video conferencing, Zoom has become a part of many workplaces and organizations – and has even surpassed Skype. But Facebook Portal, a device specifically designed for video calling, has recently gained in popularity too.

But how does it work exactly? And is there a way to use Zoom with the Facebook Portal device? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Zoom and Facebook Portal and see if there’s a way they can work together.

Are Zoom and Facebook Portal Compatible?

If you’ve recently browsed through a tech supply store or website, you might have seen the elegantly designed Facebook Portal Devices. Unlike your computer, tablet, or phone, you don’t need to download any software or apps to use the Portal. Everything is built-in.

This means that you can’t use Zoom with Facebook Portal. As far as Zoom and Portal go, for now, they’re just competitors. And there’s no indication that it will change any time soon. In fact, Facebook is looking to replace Zoom in the office setting – a development that will be interesting to follow.

For now, Facebook Portal is a fantastic device to have at home to elevate the video calling experience. But how do you make calls via the Portal? Facebook has not one but two popular video messaging apps of its own.

WhatsApp is a part of the Facebook group, so too is Messenger. Both apps come with purchased Facebook Portal device. And they are equally popular and widely used internationally.

Live Stream a Zoom Webinar on Facebook

If you’re keen to figure out a way you can use Zoom with the Facebook platform, there is a connection you can explore. But it has nothing to do with the Facebook Portal device. What you can do is broadcast live webinars or meetings on Zoom to your Facebook page. Here’s how it works:

1. When you’re getting ready to start your Zoom webinar, select the “More” button at the bottom of the window.
2. Select the “Live on Facebook” option.
3. Zoom will open your web browser. Log into your Facebook account and give permission to Zoom.
4. On the next page, you can:
   1. change the title of your webinar
   2. choose where to post the webinar
   3. who can see the webinar
5. Click on “Go Live”.

Zoom will open the correct Facebook page, where you’ll see a red “live” icon at the top of the window. From there, you can control the Zoom webinar. You can stop the Live Stream, View Stream on Facebook, and Copy the Streaming Link.

When your Zoom webinar becomes live on Facebook, it will start to play on your device as well. It’s advisable to turn down the volume in order to avoid any background noise. Also, keep in mind that your stream will count as one webinar viewer connection.

And the people who watch your webinar on Facebook aren’t the same as attendees of your Zoom meetings. Regardless of how many attendees are in the Zoom webinar, only the host can connect their Facebook page to Zoom. This is a pretty straightforward process, but it’s probably a good idea to test it at least once before going live.

Calling from Facebook Portal

As mentioned, you can use a Facebook Portal device to access your WhatsApp or Messenger account to make calls. The first thing to remember is that Portal calls will only work if your contact has a Facebook account, or uses WhatsApp.

You can receive Portal calls on all Portal devices but also on any device that supports these two video calling apps. When it comes to web browsers, only Chrome and Opera support the Messenger calling feature. Also, both you and the person you’re calling have to be online at the time of the call.

To make the call, you can talk to the Facebook Portal directly. You can simply say, “Hey, Portal, call Dad”. And when you’re ready to finish the call, you can say, “Hey, Portal, end call”. The voice feature is only available in English for now, in the US, UK, and Canadian markets.

Zoom and Facebook Portal on Their Separate Ways

The only way you’ll see Zoom and Facebook currently cooperating is via the live stream feature on Zoom. And while it has found its way into many households, Facebook is still a force to be reckoned with.

It’s still too early to tell if these two companies will work together and if Zoom will become a part of the built-in software on Portal. For now, each is doing their own thing, and it’s up to you to choose which one you prefer.

Have you tried Zoom or Facebook Portal before? Let us know in the comments section below.