Facebook to Cut Messaging From Main App in Effort to Focus on Facebook Messenger

Facebook is planning to motivate people to download and use its standalone Facebook Messenger app by removing messaging capabilities from the standard Facebook mobile app.

Currently, users can chat through the Messages tab located on the bottom toolbar in the main Facebook app, but that tab will soon redirect users to download the Messenger app instead. When installed, a message received in the Facebook app will switch the user over to Messenger to chat, as it does now when a user has both the Facebook and Facebook Messenger apps installed.

According to TechCrunch, Facebook is making the switch so that it does not have to support two versions of Messenger, thereby improving both apps. Facebook gave TechCrunch an official statement on the upcoming changes:

In the next few days, we're continuing to notify more people that if they want to send and receive Facebook messages, they'll need to download the Messenger app. As we've said, our goal is to focus development efforts on making Messenger the best mobile messaging experience possible and avoid the confusion of having separate Facebook mobile messaging experiences. Messenger is used by more than 200 million people every month, and we'll keep working to make it an even more engaging way to connect with people.

Facebook has already forced users in Europe to switch over to Facebook Messenger to send and accept messages.

Facebook for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Facebook Messenger for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

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Z400Racer37

28 months ago

... aaand I will stop FB messaging on my phone then. :rolleyes:

Rating: 38 Votes

daverso

28 months ago

Dumb. I don't want two apps.

Rating: 37 Votes

needfx

28 months ago

they should remove the main app altogether and rewrite it

Rating: 17 Votes

Locoboof

28 months ago

Translation.... No one used our messaging app because they'd use it within the FB app. So know we'll force you to use it.

I never saw the need for two apps that do the same thing. This story is news to me and I think the move is pretty stupid. IMO

At this point,why not make another app to post pics to your wall? Lol

Rating: 12 Votes

512ke

28 months ago

I don't think this is a smart move at all. It makes the Facebook app less useful and relevant. Meanwhile Facebook messenger is not going to stand up against other instant messaging options. I don't get this personally.

Rating: 10 Votes

milo

28 months ago

I guess I'll be sending people messages a different way then, and the fb app on my phone will get used less.

Good luck with that.

Rating: 8 Votes

nikicampos

28 months ago

All this complaining! People here don't have any vision.

Everyone claims to love Jobs and his philosophy around here but any time there's a change of the norm people go up in arms.

Splitting the app into two leads to more efficiency, simplicity, and focused use. These are all the traits that Apple and not to mention the iPhone were founded upon.

I use both apps and use them for completely separate reasons. It's a nice divide. Glad to see facebook taking initiative and making the standard app (which is insanely bloated) leaner, more efficient and thus faster.

OMG you are right, you use the apps for two different reasons!!! :rolleyes:

By the way you think, there should be and app for likes, another for viewing pictures, another one for uploading photos.... just plain stupid.

Rating: 8 Votes

DJMeat

28 months ago

They pulled this crap in the UK last month, leading me to removing the app altogether. I don't see the benefit for a casual user such as myself to have to install two apps to achieve essentially the same thing, and the mobile site does exactly what I need it to do.

Of course, it doesn't help that I despise Facebook, but just. can't. delete. my profile...

Rating: 8 Votes

jian

28 months ago

I will simply not install message. once I get a message, I will either download the message for just 5minute to finish the conversation or go to the web version.

....simply because I hate the concept of having two apps that does the same thing.

Rating: 8 Votes