Facebook Messenger is a messaging platform used to communicate on Facebook. Originally, Messenger was just Facebook Chat and was integrated into the website as a private messaging function. In 2010, Facebook started developing Messenger as a standalone app and the following year it was released for Android and iOS mobile devices. When the app was released, users were prompted to download it instead of accessing messages through the Facebook app, tapping on the Messenger icon would take you to the separate Messenger app. This frustrated a lot of users, who didn't see the necessity in having the app when the messaging function of the Facebook app met all the user needs of the time. Messenger is great for every type of user who has Facebook, from the casual user to someone who uses Facebook and its messaging service frequently. Messenger is updated consistently, adding new features to improve accessibility among other things.
Messenger Messages app for texting (SMS, MMS) is next-generation of SMS text messaging app. Messenger Messages SMS app is the best choice to replace your stock messaging app for better, expressive and fun communication. You can communicate with friends and family in any location through messages, sms, shared photos, videos, stickers, emoji and much more. Messenger for Messages is a FREE. Yahoo Messenger is a free service that allows you to see when friends come online and to send them instant messages. It also can alert you to new e-mail in your Yahoo Mail or Yahoo Personals.
Video calls, text chats, and multimedia sharing all on one platform
For the casual user, Messenger is a fun way to communicate with your Facebook friends.
You can chat with other Facebook users that aren't on your friends list as well after accepting access to the message. In the beginning, when Messenger was just Facebook chat, text chat was the only available way of chatting, and you could send pictures as well. Now, when tapping on the text box, you can add pictures from the camera roll, take pictures directly from the app using your device's camera, add gifs, send money, and have access to a number of different apps that you can use with the person that you're chatting with. You can share your location for 60 minute increments, play Facebook games, and set reminders.
Besides text chatting, you're able to record voice messages and send the recorded message to chats that you're having with other friends. There's a voice to text option as well if your friend can't listen to the message out loud. If you have a Pinterest account you can link it and send pins, or articles from well-known publishers like the Wall Street Journal. Like a message by tapping the thumbs up, or send emojis, stickers, and GIFs. Add more friends and create a group chat so everyone can join in on the fun at the same time.
Video chatting and calling are the most popular updates to the messenger. As long as you have internet access you can call a friend. Tapping on the phone icon opens up the call screen. You can do a regular voice call and toggle on the camera to turn on the video function. Access the text box while in the call by clicking on the text bubble, mute the microphone by clicking on the mic icon, and you can reverse the camera view from front facing to standard view. Take screenshots in the call that will save to your mobile device or tablet's camera roll. Now not only can you have text group chats, but you can have group voice and video calls too.
As for customization, you can change the color of the icons and the text bubbles. When you send messages, the color that you select shows up in your friend's chat as well. You can view friends' stories at the top of the app, sending messages and emojis for each clip, and you can add to your own story as well.
On an Android, Messenger takes up about 120 MB of storage while running. As you chat with more people and use more functions like sharing videos, pictures, and outside articles, the space that the app takes up begins to swell and after prolonged use, the app can sometimes shut down randomly. The app also drains the battery very quickly if you're using it for even a few different chats.
Where can you run the program?
Messenger is available for PCs, mobile devices and tablets running Windows, Mac, iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets. On PC, you can access Facebook Messenger through the Facebook website, with pop-out text boxes appearing when messages are sent. There is also a separate Messenger website if you wanted to have a separate tab for your chats, voice and video calls. All of the functions available for Messenger on Android are available on the web versions. On iOS when voice or video chatting, you can pick from a number of effects that hang and float all over the screen.
Is there a better alternative?
For Android, the best alternative is Messages, the Android function that comes with your phone. It has all of the functions that regular text messaging apps come with, but of course there isn't a way to contact Facebook friends unless you have their phone number. The next alternative would be Whatsapp. Text, voice, and video chatting is good across the board, and just like Messenger you need to have some sort of internet or data connection to use it. Other similar functions to Messenger are photo and video sharing capabilities, GIFs and stickers, voice messages, voice to text, and group chatting. With Whatsapp, you can display statuses, and view your chats on your desktop. Just go to the Whatsapp site for web and scan the QR code with your phone. You're instantly able to view all of the chats that you have on your phone on your desktop or laptop.
Our take
Facebook Messenger for Android is a lot of fun to have. It is absolutely packed with functions that make chatting delightful and kicks it up a notch in the messaging app department. There aren't many other apps with this many capabilities available for free for most mobile devices.
Should you download it?
Yes, Facebook Messenger is a useful app, but bear in mind that it drains battery power very quickly, and asks for a lot of personal information in order to download it. When it was first released, users were essentially forced to download it in order to chat with Facebook friends on a mobile device. If you're a user that utilizes a lot of functions often like video or voice chatting, sharing documents, photos, and videos, and you don't mind charging your phone more often, Messenger is worth having on your phone. Otherwise, the messaging application that comes with your phone or Whatsapp should meet your needs just fine.
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Versions of Yahoo Messenger released prior to 3 December 2015 are no longer supported. Please upgrade to the new Yahoo Messenger. If you are using a version of Yahoo Messenger released prior to 3 December 2015, the privacy module below is applicable.
If you are using a version of Yahoo Messenger released on or after 3 December 2015, click here to view the applicable privacy module.
Yahoo! Messenger for the Weballows you to exchange instant messages with your online friends. You must be a registered Yahoo! user in order to use Yahoo! Messenger for the Web.
Introducing Message History for Yahoo! Messenger.
Yahoo! Messenger for the Web (beta) has just launched and includes an exciting new feature: Message History. The feature, which is available in select versions of the product, saves IM conversations from your Yahoo! account onto our Yahoo! servers.
You can now access and search your message history from any computer -- just like email. Whether or not you use this feature, your IM friends can also use it to save conversations together into their Yahoo! accounts.
Information Collection and Use Practices
• You can establish a messenger list within Messenger and be added as a friend to other users' messenger lists.
• By default, your online status, display image and nickname will be visible to other Messenger users that you instant message with or that have you on their messenger list.
o You can choose to appear offline by signing in as “invisible.”
o By setting and using the Stealth Setting options available in the downloaded version of Yahoo! Messenger, you can selectively appear online or offline to specific friends or groups of friends on Yahoo! Messenger for the Web.
o You can choose to appear offline and block a user from sending you messages using the Block option.
• Yahoo! allows users to save messages, so that they may retain records of their instant messaging communications.
o By default, Yahoo! Messenger for the Web will archive your message history in your account on Yahoo! servers, just like email.
o To change your archiving preferences in Messenger, click the Options button from the History window.
o Please be aware that even if you choose not to save your message history, users with whom you correspond may opt to use the functionality available in their version of Messenger to save the communications and your conversations may be saved on Yahoo! servers. Click here to learn more about Message History.
o You can delete your archived messages by selecting the message, and clicking on the “Delete” button. However, this does not delete any of your conversations saved by other users.
• Messenger gives you the opportunity to report instant messages you receive as spam. If you choose to report spam, Yahoo! will be sent information about the conversation including the Yahoo! ID of the member being reported, text of the conversation, and your Yahoo! ID.
• When you invite someone to use Messenger using our form (as opposed to add someone as a friend to your friend list), you will need to provide that person's email address. Information collected on that form will only be used to send an email on your behalf and will not be used for any marketing purposes.
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Information Sharing and Disclosure Practices
• By using Messenger, you may choose to make some of your personal information public or you may choose to share some of your personal information with others.
• If you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return.
Practices Regarding Your Ability to Update or Delete Information
• You can edit Messenger settings related to your display image and Stealth Settings in the downloaded version of Yahoo! Messenger. Please see Messenger Help for more information about this.
• You can modify your list of Blocked users by accessing the Ignore List preference in the downloaded version of Yahoo! Messenger.
Other
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• When you use Yahoo! Messenger for the Web, you are subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Serviceand to the Yahoo! Community Guidelines.
• Please see Yahoo! Messenger Help if you have questions about this service.