Facebook users on Android and iOS will no longer be able to chat and send messages later this week, unless they install the separate Facebook Messenger app.
More than one billion of the social network’s 1.32 billion monthly users log in using the mobile apps, and Facebook claims they reply to messages 20% quicker through the Messenger app than through the regular Facebook app.
Facebook said in a statement:
“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.â€Â
Starting later this week, those without the Messenger app will be asked to download and install it when trying to access their inbox on the regular app.
Users who already have the new app installed will be taken to it when trying to open their inbox in the standard Facebook app.
Accessing Facebook through the web browser of your smartphone or tablet will not require you to install Messenger, and currently Windows Phone and BlackBerry users can continue using the standard app as normal.[signoff predefined=”Enjoy this?” icon=”icon-users”][/signoff]
