Facebook rolls out “smaller” version of Messenger app

Facebook and its messaging app Messenger have become an integral part of our daily lives. We rely on both to stay connected to friends and family. There is a “small” catch: both apps take up a lot of space on your smartphone, and they need a reliable internet connection to work as intended.

2015 saw Facebook address this issue by launching Facebook Lite, a downsized Facebook app that gives people a faster experience on slower mobile networks and entry-level Android smartphones around the world. Now, they’re facing the other half of the problem by launching Messenger Lite.

THINGS ARE LOOKING LIGHT. A slimmer version of Messenger, Messenger Lite was designed with the same market as Facebook Lite.

Messenger Lite is a stand-alone, slimmed down version of Messenger, Facebook’s official mobile messaging app. It comes with the core features of Messenger, including messaging, sending and receiving photos and links, and receiving stickers. The logo used for Messenger Lite is similar to Messenger though the colors are reversed, similar to Facebook and Facebook Lite.

INTRODUCING MESSENGER LITE. This video explains all you need to know about Messenger Lite.

Messenger Lite caters to those who live in areas with slower than average internet speeds and/or own an entry-level Android smartphone. The app only requires 10 MB of space, making both installation and start-up as fast as possible.

“With Messenger Lite, more people can stay in contact, regardless of network conditions or storage limitations on their Android devices. Messenger Lite was built to give people a great Messenger experience, no matter what technology they use or have access to,” said Messenger Lite Engineering Manager Tom Mulcahy in a blog post on October 2.

Filipinos should see this as a good move from the social media giant. Most Filipinos own an entry-level Android smartphone that does not have access to LTE networks. Messenger Lite was rolled out yesterday in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. Messenger Lite will be available in other countries in the coming months.

Source: Facebook Newsroom, CNN Money, The Verge, Android Authority