Facebook might put the Messenger’s chats back into its main social media app. The feature was spotted by Jane Manchun Wong and has been reported to be in testing. Once developed, the feature would allow users to use a single app to access both the social media platform and elements of the messaging service. With the new feature, users can tap on the existing Messenger button in the Facebook app to get redirected to a new “Chats” section instead of opening the separate Messenger app.
Messenger was first released back in 2011 as a standalone app and after three years facebook removed its functionality from its eponymous app. Now, almost 5 years later, as Facebook prepares to integrate WhatsApp and Instagram into a singular platform, the feature seems to be making its return.
Facebook is bringing the Chats back to the app for preparing integrated messaging
Tip @Techmeme pic.twitter.com/LABK7qrk0e
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) April 12, 2019
Wong posted another tweet noting that the Chats section only contains a limited selection of Messenger’s features. The feature can be used to send and receive messages, however, users will still need to open the standalone Messenger app to make calls, send photos, or send message reactions.
As a part of its integration plans, Facebook, according to reports, intends for each service’s individual app to continue to exist. According to Wong, the same is true for the Messenger app, which she believes will be kept around to cater to a different audience than the main Facebook app.
The screenshots shared by Wong show Facebook’s proposed white redesign for the app, which was first spotted in early January. The UI bears resemblance with Facebook Messenger’s white redesign, which was made widely available at the beginning of this year. It is not certain as of now as to when the new Messaging integration or interface might become available.
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