Facebook today is soft-launching a new live audio streaming tool.
The tool at first will only be available to a handful of partners: UK Talk “LBC“, BBC World Service, Harper Collins publishing, and authors Adam Grant and Britt Bennett. It will be made available to all users sometime in 2017.
Like Facebook Live Video the tool will enable users to ask questions and leave reactions in real time creating a direct link with the broadcaster. Among potential uses could be to stream live talk content or podcasts within the Facebook ecosystem, in-studio performances sans cameras, or live news coverage.
On Android devices users will be able to listen to audio while using other apps or locking their phones, however iOS users will only be able to listen while using the Facebook app.