Review: Facebook Messenger for Mobiles

The service is similar to Blackberry Messenger, Apple’s upcoming iMessage, as well as many other free services already in the App Store. You can send quick messages back and forth similar to texts, but the messages rely on data, and not the number of texts on your mobile account.

Facebook, the social networking giant, has unveiled a new standalone

mobile messaging app

for iOS and Android called "Facebook Messenger". The service is similar to Blackberry Messenger, Apple's upcoming iMessage, as well as many other free services already in the App Store. You can send quick messages back and forth similar to texts, but the messages rely on data, and not the number of texts on your mobile account. You can send an unlimited number of messages to all of your Facebook friends as long as you have an internet connection. The app lets you contact groups, share your location, and send photos on top of sending regular messages. Get instant mobile notifications to stay in touch with the replies from friends. You can also set the notifications to a pause of one hour or overnight so that you are not to be disturbed. This feature can also be used for individual friends.

The one main drawback is that you can't see when your friends are online available to chat. Still, this is the first step in widespread moving away from text messages, and we will see how carriers respond to it.

Facebook is yet to make any iPad native apps, and Facebook Messenger is for now with mobile phones only. Facebook Messenger is a FREE app and is already in the Top of the chart for Free apps of the week.

Download it from the Apple App Store