By getting non-users on Messenger, existing users won’t have to pay to SMS them or send them photos. It shows Facebook accepts that not everyone wants an account on its social network, but that it still hopes to provide those who do with the maximum utility. Making product available to non-users is a bold but humble move for the company. At the very least it confirms Facebook’s interest in expanding its footprint in messaging.
Alternatively, if WhatsApp turned down its offers, this could be Facebook’s plan to steamroll it. If Facebook did end up acquiring a messaging app, it could potentially be operated independently as a paid, customizable counterpart to Messenger.
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Messenger for Android will be free and for now will show zero ads, giving it an advantage over similar communication apps that are paid or ad-supported. The expanded reach will help Facebook challenge SMS, as well as third-party, free texting apps like Pinger and WhatsApp, which we’ve heard Facebook has been considering acquiring. Then they can be selected by name to start a message or group message thread. When non-Facebook users sign up, the app will suck in their contacts.
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Facebook mobile product manager Peter Deng will formally reveal the update on stage at LeWeb later today. Messenger for iOS will also take signups with just a phone number and name eventually, but Facebook doesn’t have a timetable for when.
The rollout of Messenger for non-Facebook users begins today with the Android app in a limited set of countries, including India, Australia, Indonesia, Venezuela, and South Africa but will reach the rest of the world shortly. Facebook seems to have realized the limited reach of Messenger as is and wants to let you message your contacts whether or not they’ve joined Facebook. Starting now, the Messenger for Android app, and later its iOS counterpart, will allow signups from non-Facebook users with just a name and phone number. Today Facebook announced its first-ever product open to people without a Facebook account.