Facebook’s move to turn its Messenger app into a platform that gives you the opportunity to be communicated. Currently, mobile messaging has become an important trend that has changed the way people communicate through the Internet.

This platform has enough potential to renew the dynamics of digital distribution, but it must go beyond being a messaging application to become a mobile experience if you want to earn an opportunity for commercial success. Since its appearance, the smartphone was considered a great invention since it was to serve as an Internet access point for millions of people.

Developed: Facebook inc. – Size: 35.29 Mb.

With this background, the goal of turning Facebook Messenger into an independent mobile platform is unprecedented so far.

Things I can do with Facebook Messenger

Messages through platforms

With This app, you can make connections with others, also using another platforms. Take, for example, Apple’s iMessage: it works very well as long as you communicate with other people who are using iOS. This is because iMessage takes advantage of the data (when available) to offer advantages such as the bubble indicating that the other user is writing.

Group chats

If you’ve ever tried to do a group chat in a text messaging application, you know it can be confusing, especially if you have a mix of Android and iOS users. In my experience, messages are often slow to arrive, some people do not receive all messages, and notifications quickly drive you crazy and so on.

Messenger facilitates group chat. Simply create a new message, then write the names of the participants. Once you’ve sent that first message, you can click on the settings icon and change the name of the conversation or color, send files, create a permanent group, schedule an event and mute the conversation if notifications overwhelm you.

You can access from a browser

Just as Messenger exists as an independent mobile application, it can also operate on the web without the need for Facebook. Simply login to Messenger.com and you will get a full tab dedicated to the service. Why do that? To begin, you will get a full screen interface, with much easier management and organization of contacts and messages.

Encrypted conversations

Are you worried about security? Of course: every day we read about some new massive theft of passwords or ransomware. Fortunately, Messenger offers an additional layer of security for the conversations you think you need. The “secret” messages are “encoded from end to end of the conversation on any or all of your mobile devices at the same time”.

To start a conversation of this type in the iOS version of Messenger, touch the new message icon (top right corner), then touch “Secret” and choose the person you want to chat with. In Android, start a new conversation, then touch the information icon (top right corner) and then “Secret conversation”. In both cases you can touch the little stopwatch icon in the text box and set a time lapse for the conversation to disappear.

Send and receive money

Surprise: You can use Messenger to send and receive money PayPal style. Well, almost: Messenger payments require a debit card at both ends of the transaction. However, there is no cost to use the service, which offers protection based on personal identification number or PIN and a level “leading security in the industry”, according to Facebook.

It is worth saying that this option can be very useful when you want, for example, to split an account in a restaurant. Or when you want to pay for something you found on the Facebook Marketplace.

Free phone calls

Like iMessage, Skype and other messaging applications, Messenger allows you to make voice and video calls. If you are already using a different application for this purpose, you probably will not find a compelling reason to change. But I’m partial with Messenger partly because I have few friends on Skype, but many on Facebook. Therefore, it is much more likely that I will make my call. And unlike iMessage, Messenger works across platforms (the same as with text chats), so I’m not limited to calls with other iOS users.

There is no charge for using Messenger for calls, although it will affect your data plan if you are not connected to a Wi-Fi network.

You can also play

Messenger offers more than 20 mini-games that you can play alone or against a friend (although not in real time). These range from classics like Pac-Man to new games like Words With Friends and Cut the Rope 2. If you want to play on your own, just touch the Games tab and choose a title. To play against a friend, open your conversation with that person, touch the “more” icon, and then touch Games.

Send a 15-second video instantly

You may already know that Messenger has a built-in camera function. However, if you want to send a video quickly, press and hold the camera’s shutter button for 15 seconds. When you release it (or 15 seconds elapse), the video will be previewed immediately – in a repeating cycle – until you touch the Send or Cancel button.

This is an excellent way to capture something quickly, without having to change modes or applications.

File exchange

“Hey, can you send me that report?” If you receive a similar request while using Messenger in a desktop browser, you do not have to jump to email, create a new message and all that implies. Instead, you can click on the clip icon in the Messenger toolbar and send a file directly. (In Messenger.com, you can actually drag and drop files). The maximum size you can attach is 25 MB, just like in Gmail.

There’s a lot more Messenger can do, but for now, that’s my list. What characteristics have you discovered that are especially useful to you?