Facebook Messenger is an instant messaging service and software application which provides text and voice communication. Integrated with Facebook's web-based Chat feature and built on the open MQTT protocol, Messenger lets Facebook users chat with friends both on mobile and on the main website.
Messenger for Mobile was released on August 9, 2011 for iOS and Android, with an October 11 update making the app available for BlackBerry OS.
In December 2012, the Facebook Messenger app for Android in some regions (such as Australia, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Venezuela) added the ability to use Messenger without a Facebook account by simply using a name and phone number.
Messenger for Mobile was released on August 9, 2011 for iOS and Android, with an October 11 update making the app available for BlackBerry OS.
In December 2012, the Facebook Messenger app for Android in some regions (such as Australia, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Venezuela) added the ability to use Messenger without a Facebook account by simply using a name and phone number.
These changes are intended to allow Facebook Messenger to compete against similar mobile messaging platforms such as WhatsApp as an alternative to text messaging. Later updates added the ability to use Facebook Messenger as a replacement text messaging client on Android, and added "Chat Heads", an overlay chat system originating from Facebook Home.
On March 5, 2014, Facebook Messenger app was released for Windows Phone 8. This app contains many features similar to iOS and Android app but lacking chat heads and voice messaging features.
In April 2014, Facebook announced that the messaging feature will be removed from the main Facebook app and users will be requested to download Messenger.
On July 3, 2014, a native Facebook Messenger app was released for iPad. It was specially designed for iPad rather than just running as an enlarged iPhone app. Messenger for iPad features a multi-window interface showing a list of threads and the current conversation at the same time.
Messenger for Windows Desktop
Messenger for Windows Desktop was officially released on March 5, 2012 for Windows 7 users. Testing on the software began among a limited beta tester group on November 21, 2011; however, a leaked link to the beta-stage software was publicly revealed to tech bloggers by Israeli blog TechIT. Facebook responded the same day by announcing the link's availability through its Help Center.
Among its features is a "ticker" similar in function to the sidebar of friend activity seen by Facebook website users. At the time of release, "chatting with multiple friends, video calling, limiting chat availability and editing settings" were not available through the software. A Mac OS X version was mentioned by Facebook developers as forthcoming.
Messenger for Firefox
Facebook also launched an add-on for Firefox, entitled Facebook Messenger for Firefox.
Discontinuation
On 26 February 2014, Facebook announced that they would be discontinuing Facebook Messenger for Windows and Firefox, and it would stop working on 3 March 2014.
On March 5, 2014, Facebook Messenger app was released for Windows Phone 8. This app contains many features similar to iOS and Android app but lacking chat heads and voice messaging features.
In April 2014, Facebook announced that the messaging feature will be removed from the main Facebook app and users will be requested to download Messenger.
On July 3, 2014, a native Facebook Messenger app was released for iPad. It was specially designed for iPad rather than just running as an enlarged iPhone app. Messenger for iPad features a multi-window interface showing a list of threads and the current conversation at the same time.
Messenger for Windows Desktop
Messenger for Windows Desktop was officially released on March 5, 2012 for Windows 7 users. Testing on the software began among a limited beta tester group on November 21, 2011; however, a leaked link to the beta-stage software was publicly revealed to tech bloggers by Israeli blog TechIT. Facebook responded the same day by announcing the link's availability through its Help Center.
Among its features is a "ticker" similar in function to the sidebar of friend activity seen by Facebook website users. At the time of release, "chatting with multiple friends, video calling, limiting chat availability and editing settings" were not available through the software. A Mac OS X version was mentioned by Facebook developers as forthcoming.
Messenger for Firefox
Facebook also launched an add-on for Firefox, entitled Facebook Messenger for Firefox.
Discontinuation
On 26 February 2014, Facebook announced that they would be discontinuing Facebook Messenger for Windows and Firefox, and it would stop working on 3 March 2014.
