Facebook drops the ax on Messenger for Windows

Facebook decided to withdraw support for Messenger for Windows starting March 3. PCWorld reports the social networking service did not divulge its reason for pulling support for the app. Facebook users on Windows though can still access messaging features on Facebook’s site. The messenger app is barely two years old and had been well-received by Windows users with over half of the ratings worth five stars.

But Facebook is pushing through with plans developing Messenger for Windows Phone. Perhaps, this is the social network’s way of transitioning to mobile.

WhatsApp to include voice capability

Facebook’s recent acquisition, WhatsApp Inc., plans to include voice functionality into the application in the second quarter of 2014. WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum said at Mobile World Congress the feature will be available first on Android and iOS devices and then Windows and BlackBerry.

“We want to make sure people always have the ability to stay in touch and call their friends, families and loved ones and do it easily and affordably,” Koum said.

Source: Toronto Star

Facebook Messenger to arrive on Windows Phone platform ‘soon’

Microsoft is working hard to play catch-up with the top apps on the other mobile operating systems. Aside from announcing new hardware partners, Microsoft said Facebook’s chat app Messenger will also be coming to Windows Phone soon. Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore did not specify the timeline but it is “coming soon.” While there is already the messaging feature built into the native Facebook app, the Messenger app offers a broader set of features such as the popular “stickers.”

Source: The Verge

10 million Canadians use Facebook via mobile daily

 

Facebook users in Canada have steadily increased their use of the social network on mobile devices. Mobile daily use has jumped from 9.4 million to 10 million between the periods of August 2013 and February 2013. Monthly use is up 15% from 13 million to 15 million. Jordan Banks, Facebook head for Canada, told the Canadian Press that people check Facebook on their phones around 20 times a day.

And while users complain about the presence of ads on their news feed, Banks said the one advertisement among every 20 posts ratio has not affected engagement numbers. "We have a really good sense of how people generally want to interact with the ads and the frequency they're willing to accept and (one in 20 posts) has been universally accepted as being a good ratio." Banks adds that majority of businesses use Facebook to communicate with their market.