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Facebook Messenger for Android integrates SMSes

Michelle Avenant
By Michelle Avenant, portals journalist.
Johannesburg, 15 Jun 2016
Facebook Messenger will display SMSes in purple, and allow users to send stickers and audio via SMS. (Picture: Messenger)
Facebook Messenger will display SMSes in purple, and allow users to send stickers and audio via SMS. (Picture: Messenger)

Android users can now send and receive SMS messages from within Facebook's Messenger app.

SMS messaging was first integrated into Facebook Messenger for Android in 2012, although it was dropped in 2013 due to weak usage.

While the first integration of SMS into Messenger allowed users to view their SMSes in both Messenger and their default SMS app, the feature's reintroduction lets people use Messenger in place of their default SMS app.

Those who do this can view all of their SMSes and Facebook messages and chat sessions in the same place. SMSes are differentiated by colour - showing in purple while Facebook messages are blue - and Messenger will not merge SMS and Messenger conversations with the same contact into one chat session. Standard SMS fees will continue to apply for users.

Sending SMSes from Messenger will also allow users to send some of Facebook's "rich content" via SMS, including stickers, emojis, photos, audio, and video. More complex features such as gifs, bots, payments, and third-party apps will remain available via Messenger only.

"We know that people receive messages via both SMS and Messenger... we hope that this new choice will bring the convenience of being able to access all your messages in one place... helping you stay on top of your conversations," said Messenger in a Facebook post announcing the feature.

Yet the new function also represents a clear advantage for Facebook, as major social networks vie for more and more of users' time by expanding their functionality.

Facebook is also using the feature to push its own platform in a small way: Techcrunch reports that when a user searches the name of a friend on the app in order to type a new message, Messenger will suggest the friend's Facebook profile before their phone number.

The app assures users that it will not upload or store their SMS conversations on Facebook servers.

Messenger has made no mention of whether it plans to expand SMS functionality to iOS users.

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