Facebook Launches Standalone Messenger App for iPhone and iPad

Tuesday August 9, 2011 2:38 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
Facebook has released Facebook Messenger, an iPhone app focused on chat and messaging. The dedicated app allows users to send messages directly to friends whether they are on phones or using the Facebook website.
Messenger is a separate app, so it only takes one click to get to your messages or send a new one. Messages are delivered through notifications and texts, so your friends are more likely to get them right away.

You can use Messenger to reach all of your friends -- whether they're on Facebook or in your phone contacts. All you have to do is type the person's name.
The app is integrated with the Facebook messaging and chat service and all conversations are archived as part of ongoing conversations on Facebook. The app allows users to share their location and attach photos to conversations. Users aren't restricted to chatting with one friend either, group conversations are easily created as well.

Facebook Messenger is a direct challenge to other messaging services like BlackBerry Messenger and Apple's forthcoming iMessage. Like those products, Facebook Messenger uses data, not text messages to communicate, which means the service isn't restricted by per-message charges or separate mobile phone charges.

Facebook Messenger is a universal app available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, free from the App Store.

[ 139 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
davie18
111 months ago

this BS is not needed..

+1

Why don't they spend their time improving on the current facebook app??
Rating: 27 Votes
Avatar
tigres
111 months ago
Look ma, facebook still sucks.
Rating: 19 Votes
Avatar
citi
111 months ago
So now I have a Facebook app that never works right, never consistently notifies me of posts, pics, and messages as is, and they want me to download another app that duplicates features already in the original app that doesn't notify me of posts, pics, and messages?

Hmmm.
Rating: 18 Votes
Avatar
GorgonPhone
111 months ago
this BS is not needed..
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
Surely
111 months ago

+1

Why don't they spend their time improving on the current facebook app??


Agreed. What's next, a Facebook Photos app? And then a Facebook Status Update app?:rolleyes::p
Rating: 12 Votes
Avatar
Stridder44
111 months ago
Why!? :confused:

The Facebook app works bad enough as it is, why can't they use those resources on the Facebook app instead of wasting them on this piece of ****?
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
ugahairydawgs
111 months ago
Wouldn't it be a better use of their time to get the main app working right (i.e., notifications)?
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
sam67uk
111 months ago
Why don't they make an iPad app instead of this? :confused:
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
BCurry1
111 months ago
Fix the bugs in the Facebook iPhone app before putting your resources on another app. And Facebook wonders why there are so many people deleting their accounts.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
Michael Scrip
111 months ago
@ a few of you...

This is Facebook's attempt to take on all of the other chat programs out there.

Some people use Facebook Messaging the same way Blackberry users use BBM.

Think about it... instead of convincing all your friends to start using some other chat platform... you can continue to use Facebook where your friends are already.

But this way... a separate app gets you to your messages faster... avoiding all of the other distractions of Facebook.
Rating: 4 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]