When Facebook famously updated their internal chat service, it was widely ridiculed as being useless and annoying. Hejibits.com captured the tone of the reaction brilliantly. Such is life when major change is introduced, although, the ability to hide the chat sidebar seems to have salved some wounds caused by the update.
With that, we’ll call the new Facebook chat a push when it comes to success/failure. On the other hand, reaction to the newly-released Facebook Messenger app (for both the Apple and Google OS), at least on Twitter, has been largely positive.
Apparently, the lesson is this: Facebook chat sidebar on widescreen monitors, bad. Facebook chat on hand-held devices with smaller viewing areas when compared to widescreen monitors, good.
Sounds reasonable. Of course, the Facebook Messenger app was made simply for that reason, to message your Facebook clan. The chat sidebar on the non-mobile Facebook interfered with the overall experience, or something like that, anyway — as you can probably tell, this writer was not nearly as bothered by FB’s update chat functionality as others were. Nevertheless, the messenger app is winning where the chat functionality failed:
@johnolilly
John LillyFacebook Messenger for iPhone already looks like a must-have app. Nice job!
2 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto
@kevinnorman
Kevin NormanThis new iphone Facebook messenger app is threatening to kill my productivity 1 hour ago via HootSuite · powered by @socialditto
@mg
Matt GalliganOk very impressed with the new FB Messenger app. Here’s the link for iOS version: http://t.co/yooym7A 21 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
@elibryan
Eli HolderFacebook Messenger is sweet. The user picture grid on the group conversations is really well done 35 seconds ago via web · powered by @socialditto
Regardless of the positivity the Facebook Messenger app is generating, people still haven’t forgiven Facebook chat for, well, existing:
@4eyedmonk
HenryFacebook messenger or not…I still will not chat on Facebook… 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPad · powered by @socialditto
It should also be noted, not all the reception for the app has been golden:
@cuppie_cya
shreya shresthai dont like using facebook messenger..!! 8 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@bizaaron
BizaaronYup! “@The_JMoney: …@Facebook Messenger could be a monster app if it would just tell me who’s online. That’s chat basics 101.” 9 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto
@CalvDale
Calvin AnnandaleThe new Facebook Messenger is useless. Why would you want to message people who aren’t online? 8 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto
@AndroidSPIN
AndroidSPINCome on Facebook, Really? Is this the best you could do? http://ow.ly/5ZlVb 7 hours ago via HootSuite · powered by @socialditto
Thinking outside the box here, but the app could’ve come in handy over in England for organization purposes and for the subsequent arrests because people are dumb enough to arrange stuff like riots on Facebook:
@urbanprojectz
★★ Adam ♛Can’t organise your riots quick enough? Try using the new Facebook Messenger App – Arranging crime, on the go! #riotcleanup 4 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
Nevertheless, the following says plenty about the already-popular Facebook Messenger app:
@Techland
TechlandApp of the Week: Facebook Messenger | http://ti.me/rnvsAj 2 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
Let’s not forget about poor Blackberry as, once again, RIM was left behind in the mobile device application department:
@Mario2406
MarioY q facebook messenger no sale para blackberry :/ 2 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto
All that being said, perhaps the most honest reactions comes from The Empire:
@DeathStarPR
Death Star PRIn our galaxy, instead of using Facebook Messenger we use a thing called Actually Talking to One Another. You should try it. 20 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
That’s quickly becoming a novel idea, it seems.
So, does Facebook Messenger make up for the now-hideable failure that the updated Facebook chat was? Will it, like some suggest, take the place of SMS as the message medium of choice for a new generation? Doubtful, especially if a Facebook mass exodus ever happens. Google+ is still waiting patiently in the high grass, waiting to pounce.