Once upon a time Messenger and Facebook were one single app instead of two different ones that required separate downloads. This was until 2011 when Facebook spurned off Messenger which was originally called ‘Facebook Chat’. They went on to release standalone apps both on iOS and Android, piling up features for several years, until users began to complain about the apps being bloated.
If a tweet by Jane Manchun Wong (who has been right on several other features ahead of the official launch) are to be believed, Facebook may be reverting back to integrated chats within its main app as opposed to strong arming its users into moving back and forth between the two apps for both features. After the possibility was suggested by reverse-engineered code, Facebook Inc. confirmed a test that involves private messages sent within the Facebook app.
The code (which was reverse engineered by Jane Manchun Wong, suggests a redesigned Facebook app which includes a shortcut for accessing Messenger. With this instead of opening the separate app, the test opens a page within the Facebook app to access all the chats.
From the above screenshot of the tweet, a tap on the Messenger icon at the top right corner, opens up Chats.
Jane Wong also noted that the feature isn’t as fully fledged as the Messenger app, as it lack calls, reactions and the ability to send photos. Facebook’s statement on the situation however, suggests that Messenger will still remain as its own standalone app with more features. That is if the test of integrated Messenger ever comes to life.
The change is thanks to the reports suggesting that Facebook is considering merging different messaging platforms into one rather than separate chat options for Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In a statement to the New York Times, the social network said it is working to “build the best messaging experiences we can; and people want messaging to be fast, simple, reliable and private. We are working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks.”
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The social media giant finally removed the chat capability from the Facebook app in 2014, few years after creating the dedicated chat app. The company at the time, said using Messenger was faster than sending and receiving chats through the main app
Facebook didn’t share the reasoning behind putting the test messages back into the original app outside of “improving the experience.” Besides confirming a test and Messenger’s prominence as a stand-alone app, the company didn’t share any additional details.
Bringing back Facebook Chats in the Facebook app, will definitely aid in making messaging privately much easier without needing Messenger.
Facebook, will also be sharing some user information with Safaricom so that they can evaluate the success of their Free Facebook service.
The notice from Facebook says: “In order to help us evaluate the success of this service, and to enable us and your operator to understand your use of Facebook’s services, we may exchange some limited info with Safaricom (including any of its group companies). This includes info like your phone number, the amount of data you use and your load and promo balance. This also lets us evaluate the success of this service“.
The concept of free Facebook is not a new one, as Safaricom has had this service periodically since as early as 2010.
