Facebook Messenger Gets A Dark Mode

Facebook Messenger is the latest app to fully feature a dark mode. You can darken your screen while using the iOS and Android app from your settings. Dark mode could help extend the battery life of phones, particularly those with OLED screens. 

Bot-Based Purchases Are Coming To Facebook Messenger

Facebook has announced that chat based purchases will be coming soon to Messenger. Developers can now apply to participate in a closed beta. Once businesses have bots enabled, they should be able to sell goods and services through Messenger, as long as shoppers already have credit card information saved with Facebook. 

There Are 1 Billion Facebook Messenger Users A Month

Facebook has announced that there are more than 1 billion people now use its Messenger service every month. Messenger is also the second most popular iOS app of all time behind Facebook itself. As for Android, the company says the Messenger app has been downloaded over a billion times. "As part of this journey to 1 billion, we focused on creating the best possible experiences in modern day communications. We remain focused on helping connect people to the people and businesses who matter most," said David Marcus, VP of Messenger, in a statement. Facebook released a few more stats too: it now has over 18,000 bots on its Messenger platform, 10 percent of all VoIP calls are apparently made through Messenger and more than 22 million GIFs are sent via Messenger everyday.

Facebook Testing Encrypted Secret Messenger Conversations

Facebook has started rolling out an experimental Messenger feature for those who want to have a private conversation. You'll be able to start sending end-to-end encrypted "secret conversations" through the app. Any text you wrap with this extra layer of protection can only be accessed on one of the recipient's devices. According to Facebook's announcement post, not even the company can access your secret messages. Also, you can set a timer to indicate how much time your friend has to read what you wrote. Once time's up, it will disappear, similar to how Snapchat works. Secret messaging doesn't support content like GIFs or videos, only text based content will be supported. What do you think of Secret Conversations in Messenger ?

Facebook Messenger Now Offers Group Voice Chat For 50 People

In it’s latest update, Facebook Messenger  now allows up to 50 users to jump on a VoIP audio call for a group chat. The feature is starting to roll out now and allows anyone to start a group call by hitting the app’s Phone icon and selecting the group chat members they want included. The members will then receive a Messenger call simultaneously, which they can join at any point the conversation is taking place. You can download the latest version of the Facebook app on Android and iOS. 

Facebook Announces Chatbots for Messenger

Facebook has announced plans to bring chatbot support to its Messenger platform. At the Facebook F8 Developer Conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated a Messenger chatbot on stage, using the Messenger platform to order flowers from 1-800-Flowers through a text conversation. Developers will be able to build chat programs to interface with users. What do you think of chatbot technology ? 

Facebook Launches “M” Virtual Assistant

Facebook has launched "M," a text based virtual assistant integrated with Facebook Messenger that unlike Siri, Cortana, or Google Now relies on both human and artificial intelligence. M is meant to be more powerful than other assistants, for example allowing people to get recommendations on vacations, restaurants, and presents and then follow through with bookings or purchases. It can even be used for tasks like holding a spot in the phone queue of a cable company. M is currently only available to those who live in the California's Bay Area. The product will eventually be offered to all users who use Messenger.