Facebook Messenger redesign rolls out, ‘Dark Mode’ coming soon

Facebook on Tuesday announced an overhaul of its Messenger smartphone app in an effort to simplify the service for its 1.3 billion monthly global users.

The social network began rolling out a redesigned version featuring three tabs instead of nine, saying it was "going back to its roots" seven years after the standalone app's launch.

"We build one feature after another; they're piling up," Messenger chief Stan Chudnovsky said of the service, which has grown from a simple messaging app to one that lets users make video calls, send money and more.

The updated tabs allow users to navigate between their conversations under "Chats," stories and contacts at "People," and "Discovery," which is devoted to games and exchanges with businesses. Facebook will allow users to customise chats with a new feature called colour gradients. Now, multiple colours can be used to customise chat bubbles in conversations.

"Color gradients can be changed any time to reflect your mood or topic of conversation," Facebook said.

Facebook will be rolling out more features to Messenger in phases. Some of these include Dark Mode, a re-skinned interface and more. The new 'Messenger 4' will gradually roll out to all users globally in the coming weeks.

Facebook has positioned Messenger as a tool for businesses to efficiently handle customer questions or concerns.

Talking to customers via the app is free -- but businesses can also pay for Facebook ads that let customers start a conversation or visit their page with one click.

Messenger is part of Facebook's effort to expand outside the social network -- particularly when it comes to staying relevant to mobile lifestyles and younger people, who have been moving away from the service.