T-Mobile puts its new Facebook VoIP chat service on hold for redesign

T-Mobile has voluntarily shut down Bobsled, its week-old VoIP chat service on Facebook, because consumers aren't clear that the service belongs to the carrier and not Facebook.

The carrier says it will work with Facebook on a new design and relaunch Bobsled as quickly as possible.

"We are voluntarily and temporarily suspending the Bobsled service as we work with our partners at Facebook to address their design questions, including working to ensure that the Bobsled experience is clearly differentiated and is not mistaken for a Facebook created property," T-Mobile wrote on a a Facebook page for the service. "We apologize to our customers for this temporary disruption in service."

The app is embedded in Facebook and allows friends free VoIP calling through the Facebook chat window as well as allowing users to leave each other voice messages. T-Mobile said it intended eventually to add video chat on Facebook, as well as allow Facebook users to make calls to mobile and wired telephones with the app.

How long Bobsled will be on hiatus is up in the air, but a Facebook rep told PCMag.com the companies were working together to resolve the issue:

"We can't share details on specific issues, but regularly work with developers and partners on compliance issues. In many cases, this involves working with the application provider on minor adjustments, but when there is a security issue or policy violation that could impact users, we take immediate steps to suspend the application until we have investigated the issue."

For more:
- see this PCMag.com article

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