Facebook launches new mobile messaging app

Facebook on Tuesday released a new version of its mobile messaging app for Android devices that allows users to send out messages to contacts without even logging in to Facebook accounts.

For now, the app is available only to owners of Android phones in India, Indonesia, Australia, Venezuela and South Africa, but Facebook says it plans to roll out the same service shortly in other regions, including the United States.

The move that comes amids rumors of What's App acquisition, shows the Menlo Park company is trying to extend its reach beyond its already massive social network.

SF Gate reports that the new Android version of the Messenger app doesn't require a user to sign up for a Facebook account, an interesting twist for a company that has been pushing to connect every human activity - from reading a newspaper story to buying a gift - into its social network.

Users of the new Messenger version can sign in with just a name and phone number, and then send messages through their phones to both Facebook members and non-members.

 

SG Gate adds that that Facebook is working on a similar revision of its Messenger app for Apple's mobile iOS, although it isn't saying when that might be coming.