San Francisco - Facebook on Thursday added a feature
that lets people send cupcakes, coffee, stuffed animals or other gifts
to friends at the social network.
Facebook said it was rolling Gifts out gradually, starting in the US.
"Every
day, millions of people share special moments with their friends on
Facebook," the California-based firm said in a blog post.
"Now, there is another way to celebrate these moments."
People
can click on icons that look like bow-wrapped boxes to select gifts
from an array of merchants then send friends virtual cards either as
private messages or for posting in public timelines at Facebook pages.
Intended recipients tell Facebook whether they accept gifts and where items should be delivered.
"There
are hundreds of gifts with more added every day: Cupcakes from Magnolia
Bakery, a stuffed animal from Gund, or a digital gift card from
Starbucks," Facebook said.
The blog post showed the Gifts feature
being used on a smartphone. Facebook has been under pressure to show
how it will make money from users who are increasingly opting to access
the social network from smartphones or tablets.
- AFP