Facebook's Video Chat Portal soon to launch

Facebook is developing a video-chat device, with plans to launch later in the year.

Chatbot

The device, dubbed Portal, is reportedly Facebook's answer to products like Amazon Echo and Google Assistant.

Portal will come with a 15 inch-screen and respond to voice controls. It's speculated Portal will be able to read individual user's faces, linking them with their Facebook accounts.

Netflix and Spotify streaming will also be part of the mix.

Hardware for hire?

While Facebook has long been successful in appropriating software features, it has less expertise in hardware. So far Facebook has only built the Oculus VR headsets. While it recently decommissioned M Assistant.

Portal will sell for US$499 - a higher price point than similar offerings from Amazon and Google. It's expected to be officially announced at Facebook's annual developer conference this May and roll out several months later.