Facebook Tests SMS Service for its Messenger App on Android

After revamping the app’s user interface in January, the social media giant plans another significant update for Facebook Messenger app. According to reports, Facebook has plans to test SMS service for its Messenger app on Android.

The feature is currently being tested by the company which has confirmed the news to several tech sites including Android Police and TechCrunch. The company said that its final goal is to help people talk ‘seamlessly’ with one another.

But introducing SMS support in its Messenger app may mean more than this. If the feature is successfully tested, people will be less likely to use third party apps to communicate via text. So, Facebook’s Messengers would be everything they really need. This is one witty way to keep people forever in your ecosystem.

The bad new is that Messenger will feature SMS support only in the U.S., for the moment. According to reports submitted by Android users, some of them can already benefit from the new feature in their app.

Several screenshots show that text message bubbles in Messenger are colored purple to help you easily distinguish between types of messages. And to make it even more clear, the SMS bubble has a short message that notifies you to insert your SMS text there.

Colors will also help users tell people with whom their conversate from those with whom they communicate through SMS alone. Conversation bubbles will be rendered in blue while SMS discussion bubbles will be purple.

Nevertheless, users have complained that they do not yet have access to merged conversations. As a result you should expect your SMS and Messenger discussions to stay separate even though you may be using both features to talk to the same people.

Facebook announced that it isn’t the first time it has rolled out a SMS service. It did it first four years ago, but the feature was eventually ditched because of its lack of popularity.

So, one may wonder why would a company bring back a product that was already proven a failure. Experts believe that it is an effort to keep current users glued to Facebook’s products and make them ditch other SMS apps such as the ones integrated in their smartphones. Plus the move may entice users to stay longer on Messenger, not only for phone calls but also for text messages.

Another piece of good news is that Messenger will soon support multiple account feature, so users can swap accounts without leaving the app.

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