Facebook’s plans to pivot into private messaging now have a desktop software component. The company said today that it would bring Messenger, its popular messaging client, to Mac and Windows later this year. Facebook made the announcement at its F8 developer conference in San Jose, California.
Facebook Messenger is coming to the desktop
Mac and Windows apps will be available later this year, the company says
Mac and Windows apps will be available later this year, the company says
is the editor of the Platformer newsletter and cohost of the Hard Fork podcast.
There are far more mobile phones in the world than desktop computers, and the pace of development for computers has slowed accordingly. But for office workers who spend most of their days using a Mac or PC, messaging is a core function, and a dedicated messaging app could keep them inside Facebook’s ecosystem for hours a day.
“People want to seamlessly message from any device, and sometimes they just want a little more space to share and connect with the people they care about most,” Facebook said in a statement.
The move could also help Messenger turn a profit by making it a more attractive place for businesses to buy ads. The company wants to add other business tools to its messaging apps as well, making it a primary channel for businesses’ marketing and customer service efforts.
The desktop version of Messenger will include audio calls, group video calls, and other features that are familiar from the mobile version. It’s likely based on Messenger.com, a web-based version of Facebook Messenger that has long been a faster alternative to using Messenger from Facebook’s web interface.
As a frequent user of Messenger.com, I’m glad a desktop version is coming
The desktop apps are now in testing and will arrive globally “later this year,” the company said.
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