Facebook’s new Messenger app (iOS and Android) is an example of just how the social network plans to disrupt the ‘old’ industry of telecommunications.
The app, built by Beluga, was launched in the US yesterday and allows Facebook users to message their friends using their smart phones in a ‘simpler and faster’ way that traditional SMS.
“The Messenger app is an extension of Facebook messages, so all your conversations are in one place, including your texts, chats, emails and messages,” said Lucy Zhang, Beluga co-founder and Facebook engineer.
The app is not yet available in Ireland or other EU countries and Facebook hasn’t given a date for its release. The Google+ app also has social chat features so Facebook’s Messenger app answers any criticism of not keeping up with its new, arch social media rival.
The app does not yet allow video chat (via Skype) but reports say Mark Zuckerberg has promised that Facebook and Skype are working hard to bring video chat to the app in the near future.
Facebook’s move into instant mobile messaging and mobile video chat is a clear sign that social media companies are driving fast change in telecommunications and traditional phone networks are looking less relevant.

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