Facebook Plunges Again
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Facebook enables 'reply via email' to status updates
I have no idea if it has just been enabled for the entire Facebook userbase, or if it's steadily rolling out as I speak, but three things are for sure: I'm using it right now; it works seamlessly and it's fast. Please let me know if it's enabled for you or not -- I'll try to keep this post updated with the news.
It's been a long time coming, that's for sure. Might this also mean that we'll soon be able to reply to Facebook mail via our email accounts? I sure hope so. Anything to avoid ads that remind me of my continued bachelorhood.
Update: It's a gradual roll-out, so not everyone will have it enabled yet. It also works for any status 'thread' that you are a participant of, not just your own.
Comments
22
Subscribe to commentsalstkiDec 15th 2009 7:05PM
I'm a little confused by your description. Whatever it is, it's not enabled for me yet so I can't confirm. Some questions:
Are you saying you can reply directly to other peoples' status updates? Because your screencap example shows someone replying to a comment on your own status, not someone else's.
Does the reply function open a default email program, like a mailto: link would? Or does it use Facebook's built-in Inbox function?
Are replies posted as status comments or are they private emails?
Sebastian AnthonyDec 15th 2009 7:08PM
Sure, sorry about the lack of clarity:
It uses the long-form reply-to email address to do it -- so you send an email to 'status-update12301827309712309172321@facebook.com'. The same way you might blog via email, for example.
Good question re: your own status or others. This was on my own status update, though I can't see why it wouldn't be enabled for any status threads that I am a 'participant' of.
The friend in the image (Maxwell) said he did not have the same option in the email he received -- but whether that's because of a partial roll-out, or because it was MY status, I don't know yet.
Sgt ZeppelinDec 15th 2009 7:17PM
You can reply to the comments other people make on your status updates. It looks like this opens like a mailto: link, and it looks like they are posted as status comments.
As an example, say you're at a concert and post a status update about it. Another of your friends comment on that status saying "Cool! Me too!". Most of the time, you'll get an email informing you that someone has commented on your status. This new feature just lets you reply to that email and posts the contents of your email as the comment.
VDec 15th 2009 7:58PM
It isn't THAT new... I've had it for a week I think. I never tried it, but I've seen that message before :S
Sebastian AnthonyDec 15th 2009 8:19PM
It was 'coming soon' a few weeks ago, but I haven't seen news of it actually being implemented until now.
sRcDec 15th 2009 9:15PM
must be on a very dispersed rollout then. I went back and looked and first I started getting them was halfway through the day on Nov 18.
Brian RubinDec 15th 2009 8:16PM
I've never seen this before, but this is something I've wanted for AGES. Does it also tell you the original status update the person is replying to?
And V, it's not available for everyone yet, so :P
Sebastian AnthonyDec 15th 2009 8:20PM
No, it doesn't -- that would be nice...
Brian RubinDec 15th 2009 8:21PM
Crap, that would be quite helpful to someone like me who makes a lot of posts on various topics.
JackDec 16th 2009 2:33AM
Just make sure your email client doesnt add your signature automatically when you reply, otherwise you will get that in the comment too.
I wounder what will happen if you reply to a difference status number, will some random person get it?
Sebastian AnthonyDec 16th 2009 8:41AM
I assume there's some kind of security...! The email 'key' is pretty long too, so it's probably quite hard to get another status ID.
jackbush316Dec 16th 2009 5:48AM
Not so cool!
kamron_1Dec 16th 2009 6:27AM
reminds me of posterous; then again, everything on posterous is through email
Jeremy DixonDec 16th 2009 8:40AM
I'm not seeing this yet in my emails, but I can't wait...It is the feature that I've most wanted.
kipdurneyDec 16th 2009 9:48AM
Nope...not enabled for me yet. But would REALLY like it!! So much easier and a huge time saver!!!!
DanDec 16th 2009 10:20AM
I have no idea if it's dependant on geo-location, but I've got it in London as of 15 minutes ago
markDec 16th 2009 3:25PM
As an FYI: NutshellMail.com, a FacebookFund company, has offered this feature for some time. However, instead of getting a bunch of one-off email alerts from Facebook, NutshellMail consolidates all your activity into a single interactive email that is delivered on a schedule you choose. NutshellMail not only consolidates all your activity to reduce email clutter, but it also gives you the ability to update your status, comment and share feeds and post to friend's walls through email. http://nutshellmail.com
Sebastian AnthonyDec 16th 2009 6:38PM
Sounds neat! Thanks for the tip :)
work from homeJan 24th 2010 3:09AM
Cool feature by face book , thanks for updating.
gaaaahJan 30th 2010 8:09AM
It's not working on my BlackBerry. Here's the reply address using my phone (push e-mail):
Facebook
Here's the reply address using the Web:
Reply to Comment
Replying to the pushed e-mail didn't work. Replying via Web-based Yahoo! Mail did. Why the different reply addresses? Help!