With a finger's tap, a Facebook Messenger user can now start face-to-face conversations right on his device, thanks to the software's new video-calling feature.

As reported by Forbes, the new feature brings a video call icon at the top right corner of the application's screen. This icon may be tapped to initiate a video call within an existing conversation.

The new feature adds to Messenger's growing list of upgrades, including the recent Payments scheme, as well as Messenger Platform and Businesses on Messenger.

Facebook announced, "Today, we're introducing video calling in Messenger. Now you can have face-to-face conversations with your friends and the people you care about, via Messenger."

"Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls to friends and loved ones around the world. Video calling will expand Messenger's real-time communication features, enabling the more than 600 million people who use Messenger every month to reach others wherever they are, from anywhere. It's fast, reliable and high quality," the social network giant added.

According to Facebook, video-calling is available to use between mobile phones, regardless of the users' operating systems. That being said, an Android user can initiate a call to an iOS user, and vice-versa.

Starting the video call puts the camera in selfie mode, Forbes said, though it can be switched to rear view as well.

The feature has been made available in 18 countries as of press time, Engadget noted. These include Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Laos, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, the U.K., the U.S. and Uruguay.

Facebook will be rolling out the feature to "other regions and locales over the coming months."

The release of the new feature may not be one that gets everybody excited, but it sure is an addition to the platform's expanding scope on social communication. Mark Zuckerburg has announced back in March that Messenger will be introduced with myriad features, the Daily Mail said.

The outlet took note of Brian Blau's comment, research director at Gartner Inc., who said, "Adding (video calling) to Messenger instead of the main Facebook app maybe ties in to Messenger's mission where it's a real core person-to-person app."

"Now they're really enticing people with more features," Blau added.

In the past, Facebook users expressed hatred towards Messenger, when inbox conversations initially separated from the main social app.

What do you think about Facebook's video-calling feature? In which aspects could it be better than Skype and Hangouts? Sound off in the comments section.

Download Facebook Messenger here (iOS) and here (Android).