Apple Inc. keeps updating its iOS 11 firmware ahead of its release this summer 2017. Now, new reports from "people familiar with the iOS development" reveal certain improvement on the social element of the said operating system, with FaceTime going large with new group video calls.
The rumor was initially cited by an Israel-based website, The Verifier, which collected the information from "several people familiar with the iOS development" while the manufacturing of the iOS 11 is being done on Israel, SlashGear reported.
Following the said report, Apple's upcoming iOS update will upgrade its social aspect, while focusing on its apps like FaceTime and Messages. The source cited that users will have to initiate a group FaceTime video call from a group chat in Messages, wherein up to five people can participate in a call at once.
If the rumor is to be believed, users can experience the new group video calling on their Apple FaceTime, which has been limited to one-to-one communication since its 2010 debut, despite improvements in processor speeds and network bandwidth.
The group video calling function is not new on the market, as this option had been popularized by messaging and video services like Microsoft's Skype software, which allows several people to communicate with one another through video chats, and Google's Hangouts app.
The Verifier further claims that Apple could choose not to release group FaceTime calls in the upcoming iOS 11 firmware update, and could instead improve the feature for future updates.
According to MacRumors, the Israel-based website has no established credentials on relaying Apple rumors, so the rumors could not be clearly accurate.
On another note, the latest iOS 10 firmware brought major changes and enhancements on the Apple firmware, such as the revamped Apple Music app, modifications to the Messages app with its own App Store, changes to the Notifications panel as well as the Control Center.
As per tradition, the iOS 11 will likely be released alongside new iPhones in the fall of 2017. However, Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference to be held in June of 2017 may preview the new software before it will be released.