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Facebook Messenger 3.0

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Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#31

Post by nickloewen »

ConceitedCode wrote: post #6
rlu wrote: post #4

It's interesting how they call it texting rather than messaging. I almost thought for a second they really meant SMS.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it is more than just messaging and might include SMS. From the Play store description, "Not just for Facebook friends: Now you can message people in your phone book. And it's easy to add new contacts—just enter a phone number.". The android app also requires permission to edit/create SMS messages and make phone calls. If so, does this mean we can be able to send an SMS from facebo…

At least on Android, you can send SMS through the Facebook app, which is what I assumed they were referencing here. It doesn't send the message through Facebook in the sense of web-to-SMS gateway, though; it's just that Android apps are allowed to send SMS, and Facebook has built that functionality into their app, so that 'all of your messages are in one place'.

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#32

Post by mwilcox »

chid wrote: post #25
natesm wrote: post #15

If you install this, the messaging tab in the primary Facebook app now just switches you to the Messenger app. What a weird choice. I decided to uninstall Messenger, I like being able to chat while browsing other Facebook pages.

Just tested, this happens on iOS. Not sure about Android. I definitely agree with you. Pressing back brings you back into the standard Facebook app.

In-app messaging still working as normal on my Nexus 4.

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#33

Post by w1ntermute »

snogglethorpe wrote: post #24
brianbreslin wrote: post #14

So this is a shot across the bow at WhatsApp and kik and MessageMe right? Those apps are incredibly popular in developing nations.

... and LINE, and Kakaotalk, and ... The thing is that many of these apps are both pretty good, and have insane market penetration... It's hard to see why anybody would switch to a FB app that's very likely worse if they're already using something else (so all their contacts are there).

Yeah, if Poke couldn't take down Snapchat, then I don't know what hope this has of displacing those other apps.

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#34

Post by nicpottier »

brianbreslin wrote: post #14

So this is a shot across the bow at WhatsApp and kik and MessageMe right? Those apps are incredibly popular in developing nations.

This is only really a shot across the bow if Facebook ports their messenger app to feature phones.

WhatsApp and the like didn't invent mobile messaging, they just went through the trouble of building J2ME clients across all the cheap handsets found in the developing world so that mobile messaging was available across all devices. Facebook isn't going to make any dent at all in the developing market unless they do the same.

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#36

Post by kfk »

I hate the direction FB is going with the messaging system. It doesn't work well when you try to send anything longer than a few words. Send an email you might say, many people don't read emails as much as they read FB. Sad but true.

/rant

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#37

Post by mcdowall »

brianbreslin wrote: post #14

So this is a shot across the bow at WhatsApp and kik and MessageMe right? Those apps are incredibly popular in developing nations.

I wouldn't limit that to developing nations, pretty much everyone I know uses WhatsApp in the UK, simply because mobile coverage is so poor that it's easier to send a Whatsapp than it is to send an SMS.

I seriously hope it doesn't cause any issue for these companies, I've just got back from a few months travelling and Whatsapp was invaluable.

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#38

Post by aianus »

snogglethorpe wrote: post #24
brianbreslin wrote: post #14

So this is a shot across the bow at WhatsApp and kik and MessageMe right? Those apps are incredibly popular in developing nations.

... and LINE, and Kakaotalk, and ... The thing is that many of these apps are both pretty good, and have insane market penetration... It's hard to see why anybody would switch to a FB app that's very likely worse if they're already using something else (so all their contacts are there).

If they're on Facebook all their contacts will be on Facebook Messenger. Does Facebook have poor market penetration in Asia?

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#39

Post by adambratt »

To those complaining about this, you're not the target market.

I was on a train from Chicago to Detroit a week ago and there was a group of about 10 high schoolers sitting behind me. We got talking about iPhone apps and I asked what was popular.

They all agreed Facebook was not as cool anymore and confessed to being addicted to messaging apps that their parents couldn't check up on like they could with texts. Snapchat, Kik, and Whatsapp were among those mentioned.

It's interesting because if you look at these apps in the App Store, the screenshots are definitely targeting that age demographic as well.

Facebook is losing ground fast for this age group. The group that has grown up using Facebook and is now moving on to other mediums. This release looks very promising in helping to win back that interest.

Re: Facebook Messenger 3.0

#40

Post by erichocean »

nicpottier wrote: post #34
brianbreslin wrote: post #14

So this is a shot across the bow at WhatsApp and kik and MessageMe right? Those apps are incredibly popular in developing nations.

This is only really a shot across the bow if Facebook ports their messenger app to feature phones. WhatsApp and the like didn't invent mobile messaging, they just went through the trouble of building J2ME clients across all the cheap handsets found in the developing world so that mobile messaging was available across all devices. Facebook isn't going to make any dent at all in the developing market unless they do the…

Do you know if doing J2ME apps is still necessary in the developing world?
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