Facebook has long been expanding its Messenger service to better compete with the numerous clients crowding the instant-messaging market, and despite the acquisition of WhatsApp, the advancement of Facebook Messenger is undeterred. Today, the Menlo Park firm has made a huge statement of its dedication to improving the Facebook Messenger app by introducing third-party add-ons, allowing developers to create apps that will supplement and improve the experience of using Messenger as a whole. Full details below.
The full-on, Web edition of Facebook has reaped the benefits of third-party apps for quite some time, with anything from games to shopping services fully integrated at the discretion of each user. Messenger, since branching off as a separate mobile app of its own, has continued to grow without really offering much to separate it from the likes of WhatsApp, WeChat and LINE, to name a few, but today, that has all changed.
Facebook is granting users (and developers) better jurisdiction over how they use Messenger from here on in. In the compose window, you’ll be able to choose from a number of add-ons that will, in turn, give you more options when sending a message. For example, if you wanted to add a few GIF files, you could simply install the Giphy add-on and you’d be good to go.
It’s not all about the GIFs, either. You may, for example, try the FlipUp Voice Changer to modify a voice note, or check out the Memes app if you’re just in the mood for trolling. Facebook is claiming that it already has a broad selection of over 40 apps add-ons for Messenger, and it’s clear that Mark Zuckerberg’s social company wants to push the IM game up a notch or two with this announcement. Having added novelty features like Stickers in the past, incorporating third-party devs could prove a master stroke, and will certainly give Messenger a clear edge over everything else available.
The new feature should begin rolling out today, so if you’re a Messenger user, you’ll soon have a bunch of new ways to communicate with your friends.
If you do happen to test it out, let us know how you get on by dropping us a comment below. We’ll be waiting to hear from you.
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