Facebook releases Messenger app for smartphones


10 Aug 2011

Facebook has released Messenger for iPhone and Android devices, a standalone messaging app for individuals and groups.

The app appears to be a result of Facebook’s acquisition of messaging service company Beluga.

It provides a separate space to access Facebook messages and lets users send a new one from the app. They are delivered through notifications and texts to allow friends to access them quickly.

Users can also access friends from Facebook or their phone contacts from the app by typing a person’s name.

The app hosts a full history of Facebook conversations, including chats and messages. It also lets users upload photos from the phone to share with others.

Messenger supports group conversations, allowing users to message multiple people at once. They can also add their location to the map to find others nearby.

9to5 Mac reports that the app contains a video component, suggesting the app could introduce a video chatting feature sometime later.

Facebook Messenger is available for the iPhone and Android devices as of today.