Facebook Messenger for Android and iOS is all set to take on WhatsApp and BBM by rolling out its first update for the year. The app dedicated to allow free texting has been bumped up to v2.2.4 for the former OS and v2.1 for the latter.
With the upgraded edition of Facebook Messenger for Android and iOS, users can now give the traditional method of typing some rest and leave a voice message for their folks with the Record Voice option. The recipients can listen to the audio if and when it pleases them as there is no compulsion whatsoever to access the messages in real time.
Solely for iOS owners, the app has provided options to make free calls through the messenger. This technique takes us down memory lane to when BlackBerry had come up with something quite similar. Its Voice Chat option makes it possible to have verbal conversations with people in the BBM contact list, similar to what the standalone Facebook app now claims to do.
The Apple App Store however denotes in fine print that such voice chats will use up data. This feature has still to come out and should be accessible within the next few weeks. Apart from these new introductions there are other improvements and bug fixes that the developers seem to have carried out.
Of course, users can still text friends individually or start a group chat. They can furthermore send images and smileys, receive push notification and share their location details. The option to see SMS and the social network’s inbox messages has however not been offered in all Android devices at present.
Facebook Messenger for iOS is available for free. It can be downloaded through the Apple App Store for those using iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, whereas those with devices running the Android OS (Froyo or higher) will be able to install it via the Google Play store free of cost.
The features listed below have been included in the upgraded version:
– Ability to send quick voice messages
– Option to make calls for free through the messenger (only for iOS gadgets)
– Other improvements and bug fixes