Facebook Inc. expanded its Live platform with a feature that will enable publishers to do live audio-only broadcasts.

In a Dec. 20 official blog post, Facebook said the Live Audio function will allow users to go live with audio only, even from areas with low network connectivity. Listeners via Android devices can continue listening to live broadcasts even after leaving the Facebook app or locking their phones, while owners of Apple Inc.'s iOS devices will be able to continue listening while navigating across Facebook.

The social networking giant teamed up with the British Broadcasting Corp.'s BBC World Service, LBC, News Corp. unit HarperCollins Publishers, and authors Adam Grant and Brit Bennett to test out the new feature in the coming weeks. A broader rollout of the function is planned for early 2017.