Categories: Mobile

Facebook launches standalone Android and iPhone messaging app

Facebook has just launched a standalone messaging app, Facebook Messenger, for Android and iOS devices. The app allows Facebook users to message friends individually or by group, send photos and share location information.

Facebook Messenger is a direct descendant of Beluga, a group messaging service that Facebook acquired in March of this year, and is the first standalone app from the social network. This app could signal the start of an emerging trend as Facebook is also rumoured to be working on a standalone photo sharing app.

With Facebook Messenger app-to-app messages are delivered via push notifications. If the receiving user does not have Facebook Messenger, the update is delivered via Facebook Chat, Facebook Messages or by good old-fashioned SMS instead.

The app imports all your existing conversations on Facebook Messages. New conversations are started by adding one or more Facebook friends or phone numbers from your list of phone contacts. The app won’t quite replace your phone’s basic SMS application just yet however, at least not until a sizable portion of the current 750 million active Facebook users download it first.

The app is currently not available in Ireland but we’re expecting it within the next few hours.

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

View Comments

Recent Posts

HR execs head to Orlando for HR Management Institute event to help define the future of work 

HR has always had far-reaching responsibilities, however its focus has long been on employee retention…

4 days ago

Longview Fusion Energy Systems Highlighted as Key Contributor in Multiple FIRE Grants

Longview Fusion Energy Systems has announced its role as a key contributor to two of the…

7 days ago

As CFOs battle tough odds, accounting solutions help to drive new efficiencies 

As CFOs battle tough odds, accounting solutions help to drive new efficiencies  More than anything,…

7 days ago

An algorithmic Apple of Discord: DARPA renames Theory of Mind program to ‘Kallisti’

Could 'Kallisti' be the beginning of another Trojan Horse scenario? perspective The US Defense Advanced…

1 week ago

NAVC Recognizes BestyBnB as 2025 Marquee Award Winner

BestyBnB Co-Founder Matt Krentz with his dog Lucky and two BestyBnB Foster Dogs, Bailey and…

1 week ago

As struggles with communication rise, Prezent launches new season of “Think Deeply, Speak Simply” podcast 

As screens and technology take up an increasingly large percentage of our lives, the art…

1 week ago