Facebook to kill in-app messaging in favor of using dedicated Facebook Messenger app

By Simon Sage
published

Facebook is working on transitioning users somewhat forcefully to using their dedicated Messenger app. Warning messages have been sent out to some European users that in about two weeks time, they wouldn’t be able to use the core Facebook app to do their chatting. Though this change will be rolling out globally, there will be exceptions in place for lower-powered Android devices that apparently can’t handle the Pure Awesome of the Facebook Messenger standalone app, and for Facebook’s relatively fresh news app, Paper.

Though this means you’ll need to install and manage two apps, hopefully it will result in greater performance individually. What do you guys think of the change? Do you already have Facebook Messenger installed, or would you rather keep your Facebook chats bundled in the core experience?

Source: The Verge

Simon Sage
Simon Sage

Editor-at-very-large at Mobile Nations, gamer, giant.

28 Comments
  • No one I know uses the dedicated messenger app. I am the only one out of my friends and family to do so. If this helps them make the transition so I can take advantage of the exclusive messenger features, I am for this.
  • Eh, whatever. Still not going to install Messenger.
  • I deleted it. They need to push Paper more. Worlds better that the standard app. Sent from the iMore App
  • +1
  • I was thinking the same thing! Sent from the iMore App
  • +1
  • I'll just delete Facebook entirely off my phone. ONE APP is enough. Make ONE APP actually work well and stop pushing out half-baked apps. If I wanted to make "voice conversations" happen with someone, I'd call them, and not let FB listen in. They seem to not have a clue what their users want. I might just have to get rid of my account and not worry about it anymore.
  • Ok, I hate using FaceBook anyway. I'll just stop using messages-oh wait I already don't. Nbd besides I still have an old version of the app from last year so it shouldn't bug me. Regardless, that's one of the most ridiculous decisions I've seen from the company. Between that and the fact I can't have notifications on because they spam me daily are reasons why I hate them so much. It's not difficult to make something that works well.
  • How did Facebook get to be so big when it's run by so many antisocial numbskulls? I tried the new version of messenger and have now deleted it from my phone for the third and final time. I'm not wasting any more space on it, I'll go without if they remove the functionality from the main app. Sent from the iMore App
  • Meh. What a stupid move. Don't fix what isn't broken and make the experience disjointed. Sent from the iMore App
  • I may get 2 FB messages a month and 1 of those is a Nigerian scam artist. Some of the folks I work with use it I just keep it for that. Sent from the iMore App
  • The problem with facebook messaging is i barely want to talk to 90% of the people on facebook so i've turned it off. If it's on random people from highschool will keep trying to talk to me.
  • FB is just going to screw themselves by forcing people to a separate app.... most won't - including myself - won't install. F*(k FB!!!
  • I rate the Facebook messenger app. I think it's one of the best instant messaging apps I've used.
  • I like things simple, one FB app is enough for me. I barely use FB as a whole so a. Move like this means I'll use it even less. Guess, I'll have to give notice now to all those who will inevitably message me from the dedicated messaging app and I don't respond for until days later. Slowly, but surely FB pushes me farther away than I already am. I see now that soon I'll delete the FB app entirely from my iPhone and iPad and go back to just using the web.
  • Never use it. None of my friends use it. Sent from the iMore App
  • Would rather have 1 app. I can browse and have conversations in one place. having a second app just forces more moments of switching apps. You click on a persons name in a message to view their profile and it has to switch apps to view the timeline. Then switch back to view the message. I would rather just use the one.
  • Step 1: they remove in-app messaging
    This could be a preparation for Step 2 which should logically be integration of both whatsapp mssngr and facebook mssngr in some way.
    If that happens, a huge number of people who are against having their cell numbers public will pull back from using whatsapp and move to the smarter choice imessage or back to BBM.
    That is only a personal opinion Sent from the iMore App
  • It doesn't make any sense to merg Watsapp and Messenger. The only reason they might be forcing to use the group messaging feature of messenger which is pretty cool as well.
  • http://www.flipkart.com/apple-iphone-5s/p/itmduzkfywd7yqd4?affid=affilia...
  • I use the Messenger function as a DM feature (and it's the reason noone emails anymore!). For this reason it would be a pain to have to use an additional app ... Sent from the iMore App
  • I already use the messenger app for messages. I'm not fond of the bubble heads also showing up in the FB app. So, I welcome this change.
  • What is so "awesome" about the stand alone app? It is chat! Chat!!! Chat!! Nobody invented the wheel here. What is the big deal?!
  • Installed the Messenger app a while ago, my battery life immediately went to hell, promptly uninstalled. I may not be doing FB messaging on my phone anymore.
  • Tried it. Deleted it. Won't use it. Sent from the iMore App
  • I tried it months ago. Two things I hated 1) I couldn't get back to Facebook from within the messenger app 2) I would hit the message tab in Facebook accidentally, causing me to leave the app and have to go dig it up again. Deleting the app resolved both annoyances. It's my understanding the new messenger app has a Return to Facebook button, which puts you where you were previously. That would resolve one problem. Sent from the iMore App
  • It's a real pain in the butt.
    Why can't they just leave it as it is, who ever likes it goes Messenger the rest, that includes me, stays with the original Facebook app. I think I might just delete both apps and use the web version on mobile instead...
  • Ok the work around is to log into FB mobile on your phone via the browser (https://m.facebook.com), then bookmark it, then save the bookmark to your homescreen on your phone.