Facebook says that, for the next couple of days, it will be notifying people that if they desire to continue sending out mobile message, they'll have to download the Messenger app.
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" As we have actually stated, our goal is to focus development efforts on making Messenger the very best mobile messaging experience possible and prevent the confusion of having different Facebook mobile messaging experiences," a Facebook spokeswoman said Tuesday in a written declaration.
" Messenger is utilized by more than 200 million individuals every month, and we'll keep working to make it a a lot more appealing method to get in touch with individuals."
In April, Facebook announced the change was coming. It has actually been presented to Android and iOS users in parts of Europe and elsewhere since then, and is now concerning the United States.
In November, after Facebook introduced Messenger 3.0, the company ceased messaging in the core Facebook app for people who already had Messenger.
The excellent news for individuals still using simply the Facebook app is that they'll be able to message buddies in much the very same way they do now. Once both apps are set up, tapping the "message" icon on the Facebook app will simply send out the user to Messenger. They'll have the ability to return by means of a "go back to Facebook" icon.
The appeal of apps like Messenger and WhatsApp, which Facebook acquired in February, are assisting change the rules for texting. Wireless plans that charge for texting are becoming a thing of the past in the United States, though they remain the standard in locations like India, South America and Africa, where WhatsApp has become a popular, almost complimentary alternative.