Messenger

Messenger
(sometimes abbreviated as Messenger)[5] is an instant messaging service and

software application. Originally developed as Facebook Chat in 2008, the
company revamped its messaging service in 2010, and subsequently released
standalone iOS and Android apps in August 2011. Over the years, Facebook has
released new apps on a variety of different operating systems, launched a
dedicated website interface, and separated the messaging functionality from the
main Facebook app, requiring users to use the web interface or download one of
the standalone apps.
Users can send messages and exchange photos, videos, stickers, audio, and files,
as well as react to other users' messages and interact with bots. The service also
supports voice and video calling. The standalone apps support using multiple
accounts, conversations with optional end-to-end encryption, and playing
games.
After being separated from the main Facebook app, Messenger had 600 million
users in April 2015, growing to 900 million in June 2016, 1 billion in July 2016,
and 1.2 billion in April 2017.
History
Following tests of a new instant messaging platform on Facebook in March
2008,[6][7] the feature, then-titled "Facebook Chat", was gradually released to
users in April 2008.[8][9] Facebook revamped its messaging platform in
November 2010,[10] and subsequently acquired group messaging service Beluga
in March 2011,[11] which the company used to launch its standalone iOS and
Android mobile apps on August 9, 2011.[12][13] Facebook later launched a
BlackBerry version in October 2011.[14][15] An app for Windows Phone, though
lacking features including voice messaging and chat heads, was released in
March 2014.[16][17] In April 2014, Facebook announced that the messaging
feature would be removed from the main Facebook app and users will be
required to download the separate Messenger app.[18][19] An iPad-optimized
version of the iOS app was released in July 2014.[20][21] In April 2015, Facebook
launched a website interface for Messenger.[22][23] A Tizen app was released on
July 13, 2015.[24] In October 2016, Facebook released Facebook Messenger Lite,
a stripped-down version of Messenger with a reduced feature set. The app is
aimed primarily at old Android phones and regions where high-speed Internet is
not widely available. Facebook Messenger Lite is only available in Kenya,
Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela, and is set to come to other
countries later.[25][26] In April 2017, Facebook Messenger Lite was expanded to
132 more countries.[27][28] In May 2017, Facebook revamped the design for
Messenger on Android and iOS, bringing a new home screen with tabs and
categorization of content and interactive media, red dots indicating new activity,
and relocated sections.[29][30]
Facebook announced a Messenger program for Windows 7 in a limited beta test

in November 2011.[31][32] The following month, Israeli blog TechIT leaked a
download link for the program, with Facebook subsequently confirming and
officially releasing the program.[33][34] The program was eventually discontinued
in March 2014.[35][36] A Firefox web browser add-on was released in December
2012,[37] but was also discontinued in March 2014.
Features
Facebook Messenger lets Facebook users send messages to each other.
Complementing regular conversations, Messenger lets users make voice calls
and video calls both in one-to-one interactions and in group conversations. Its
Android app has integrated support for SMS and "Chat Heads", which are round
profile photo icons appearing on-screen regardless of what app is open,[39][40]
while both apps support multiple accounts, conversations with optional end-to-
end encryption, and playing "Instant Games", which are select games built into
Messenger.[41][42][43] Some features, including sending money and requesting
transportation, are limited to the United States.[44][45] In 2017, Facebook has
added "Messenger Day", a feature that lets users share photos and videos in a
story-format with all their friends with the content disappearing after 24 hours;
[46]
Reactions, which lets users tap and hold a message to add a reaction through
an emoji;[47] and Mentions, which lets users in group conversations type @ to
give a particular user a notification.[47]
In March 2015, Facebook announced that it would start letting businesses and
users interact through Messenger with features such as tracking purchases and
receiving notifications, and interacting with customer service representatives. [48]
It also announced that third-party developers could integrate their apps into
Messenger, letting users enter an app while inside Messenger and optionally
share details from the app into a chat.[48] In April 2016, it introduced an API for
developers to build chatbots into Messenger, for uses such as news publishers
building bots to give users news through the service,[49] and in April 2017, it
enabled the M virtual assistant for users in the U.S., which scans chats for
keywords and suggests relevant actions, such as its payments system for users
mentioning money.[50] Additionally, Facebook expanded the use of bots,
incorporating group chatbots into Messenger as "Chat Extensions", adding a
"Discover" tab for finding bots, and enabling special, branded QR codes that,
when scanned, take the user to a specific bot

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Messenger

(sometimes abbreviated as Messenger)[5] is an instant messaging service and

Facebook announced a Messenger program for Windows 7 in a limited beta test

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