Facebook managed to tap into a wealth of users upon launching their Messenger instant messaging app, an offshoot of the message function from their iconic social networking platform. Ever since its release in 2011, the service has been spruced up with an ever-increasing number of new features and functions. But while some users get some good mileage out of additions to Messenger, others find the upgrades to be mere fluff. Furthermore, a beefier app works badly whenever internet speed is slow. That is why Facebook has introduced a new “Lite” version of the Messenger app for Android.
Or rather, they are just introducing it to major countries like the US and UK after being introduced in other locations.
Lite on the data usage
Many app developers take into consideration the slower internet speeds of certain countries, leading to connectivity issues with applications that have a lot of features. Google, for instance, has developed alternate versions of its suite of apps like Maps and Search that are light on data use, which they have been testing in Indonesia. Facebook is not that far behind either, having already launched Messenger Lite in similar countries whose internet is not quite up to snuff with the West.
Now, however, Facebook is making Messenger Lite available to their major developed areas, after noticing how many US users have been side-loading the app onto their mobiles as a cheap way to cut down on their data plan use.
This time, the social network giant has made an official release of their Lite app to the West. “Messenger Lite is a slimmed-down version of Messenger that offers the core features of the app,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement about Messenger Lite. “While giving everyone the opportunity to stay connected to their friends and family, regardless of device or quality of internet connectivity.”
Android only
Facebook first launched Messenger Lite in five bandits with low bandwidth strength back in 2016.
It was only in April of this year that the company expanded the app’s availability globally, except for countries with top-notch internet like the four listed above. Now Americans, Canadians, Britons and Irish can enjoy a faster stripped-down messaging experience that is easy on the data load.
Messenger Lite does not have the additional features that Facebook has on the full app like video/voice calls, GIFs, Spotify and Lyft extensions and Chat Heads, but the sheer speed and low-data use more than make up for it in the eyes of stateside Android users. There is a stickler; Messenger Lite is available on Android only, with no plans by Facebook to offer it on iOS.
