Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger logo for Android.
Screenshot
Developer(s)	Facebook Inc.
Initial release	August 2011
Stable release	Android 2.3.2 (March 11, 2013; 3 months ago) iOS 2.4 (May 6, 2013; 38 days ago) Microsoft Windows 2.1.4651.17928 (September 25, 2012; 8 months ago) BlackBerry OS 1.1.294 (September 25, 2012; 8 months ago)
Development status	Active
Operating system	Cross-platform
Type	Instant messaging
License	Freeware
Website	www.facebook.com/about/messenger

Facebook Messenger is an instant messaging service and software application which provides text and voice communication. Integrated with Facebook's web-based Chat feature and built on the open-source MQTT protocol, Messenger lets Facebook users chat with friends both on mobile and on the main website.

Software application

Messenger for Mobile

Messenger for Mobile was released on August 9, 2011 for iOS and Android, with an October 11 update making the app available for BlackBerry OS.
In December 2012, the Facebook Messenger app for Android in some regions (such as Australia, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Venezuela) added the ability to use Messenger without a Facebook account by simply using a name and phone number. These changes are intended to allow Facebook Messenger to compete against similar mobile messaging platforms such as WhatsApp as an alternative to text messaging.^[Later updates added the ability to use Facebook Messenger as a replacement text messaging client on Android, and added "Chat Heads", an overlay chat system originating from Facebook Home.

Messenger for Desktop

Messenger for Windows Desktop was "officially" released on March 5, 2012 for Windows 7 users. Testing on the software began among a limited beta tester group on November 21, 2011; however, a leaked link to the beta-stage software was publicly revealed to tech bloggers by Israeli blog TechIT.Facebook responded the same day by announcing the link's availability through its Help Center.
Among its features is a "ticker" similar in function to the sidebar of friend activity seen by Facebook website users. At the time of release, "chatting with multiple friends, video calling, limiting chat availability and editing settings" were not available through the software. A Mac OS X version was mentioned by Facebook developers as forthcoming.