Facebook releases messaging app for iPhone, Android

Social networking giant Facebook released Wednesday (Manila time) a new dedicated messaging app for Apple Inc.’s iPhone and Google Inc.’s Android devices. Facebook engineer Lucy Zhang said this is a Facebook extension that will make the social network’s messaging easier for users on the go. "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," she said in a blog post. With the new app, she said users can just write a message, click “Send" and “know that you will reach the person right away." Zhang said the Messenger app is an extension of Facebook messages, so all conversations are in one place, including texts, chats, emails and messages. “Whether you’re on your phone or on the web, you can see the full history of all your messages," she added. On the other hand, she said another benefit of the Messenger app is coordinating an event while on the go by starting a group conversation, thanks to its group conversation feature. A user can also add his or her location, so the people he or she is messaging can find him or her on the map. “You can also attach photos, so everyone else can see and comment on what you’re looking at," she said. Zhang said Messenger was made available for both iPhone and Android starting Wednesday. — RSJ, GMA News