Messaging

Facebook updates Messenger with third-party app support

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

After announcing support for select third-party applications inside its Messenger service last week, Facebook on Monday issued a refresh to the mobile messaging app which officially enables third-party integration.

Now available free in the App Store, the update puts a new button in the chat interface of Facebook Messenger. Tapping it brings up a sheet where you can browse and download supported third-party apps that extend Messenger's functionality, like apps for sending and receiving animated GIFs and more.

Facebook readying Phone app, may turn Messenger into a platform

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 23, 2015

Facebook wants to be more than just a social network. The company has been working on a dedicated Phone mobile app and is considering moves to turn its standalone mobile Messenger service into a platform of its own, according to web reports Monday. The dedicated Phone app would show rich information about callers and automatically block calls from commonly blocked numbers.

As for enhancing Messenger, this could entail adding features beyond exchanging media and instant messages, like bringing news and way richer content sharing to the service.

We'll know for sure next week at Facebook’s F8 conference, an annual gathering for Facebook developers where the company usually announce major platform advancements and new services.

BBM for iPhone updated with Touch ID and landscape support, ad removal and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 12, 2015

The latest BBM for iPhone update is now available for iOS users in the App Store, featuring support for Touch ID-based fingerprint verification, a custom PIN feature, the ability to remove in-app advertising through an In-App Purchase and more.

The free messaging software can now at last be locked with a passcode and Touch ID to keep your messages hidden from prying eyes. You can set how long you would like BBM to remain unlocked before a password is required again.

At last, Facebook Messenger gets native iOS 8 Share extension

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Today, social networking behemoth Facebook issued a small yet important update to its mobile messaging software for the iPhone and iPad. Facebook Messenger version 22 is now available in the App Store and with it comes a much appreciated and long overdue iOS 8 extension.

With it, you can at last send pieces of content to Messenger without leaving other apps. Using iOS 8's standard Share sheet, it's simple to share photos, videos and links directly with Messenger contacts, without leaving context of the app you're currently using.

Skype for iPhone introduces new chat picker, brings back URI support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 9, 2015

Microsoft today released an update to Skype for iPhone in the App Store. In addition to general improvements, Skype 5.10 for iPhone lets you quickly call people and groups straight from a new chat picker: just tap on a new chat icon and choose who to talk to.

The update enhances Skype's dialer with a useful auto-complete feature that searches for Skype contacts as you’re entering a phone number.

Most importantly, the new version brings Skype URI support back to iPhones so third-party developers can again write apps that integrate with Skype.

WhatsApp gains improved image chooser, new Call button and Dynamic Type support

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 31, 2023

WhatsApp for iPhone got updated Thursday with three noteworthy improvements. For starters, it now honors your preferred font size set in Settings > General > Accessibility > Larger Text so all text labels throughout the app get rendered in your chosen typeface size.

There's also a new call button in chats. Lastly, a built-in image chooser has been redesigned so you can now quickly add recent images from your Camera Roll right after tapping on the camera icon in chats.

Snapchat rolls out Discover feature that highlights curated stories and videos

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Tuesday, Snapchat announced a new feature called Discover which highlights curated stories from Snapchat's different editorial teams.

Snapchat is moving to become a media platform so they've partnered with some of the major names in media like the ESPN, Vice and CNN to build a storytelling format which puts the narrative first.

“This is not social media” nor is it aboutwhat’s most new and trending, remarked the firm in a blog post. No, sir — Snapchat believes in curation and high-quality content so “We count on editors and artists, not clicks and shares, to determine what’s important.”

BlackBerry calls upon US government to force Apple to port iMessage to its smartphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 22, 2015

Disregarding for a moment the fact that Apple has never actually made any promises regarding bringing iMessage to other platforms (unlike FaceTime, but that's a topic for another story), the embattled smartphone maker BlackBerry wants Apple's messaging platform on its smartphones so badly that it's calling on the United States government to intervene and do something about it.

It's not a joke: BlackBerry CEO John Chen penned a post over at the company blog proposing just that.

In a nutshell, rather than let the market dictate what any company should do, he's demanding that the Cupertino firm make iMessage cross-platform.

Facebook testing voice transcription feature in Messenger ahead of official rollout

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 18, 2015

Facebook has begun testing a new feature in its mobile Messenger software that can read transcripts of received voice messages in case you don't want to listen to them.

The company is currently testing the feature with a tiny subset of Messenger's more than 500 million users ahead of a forthcoming launch in the near future.

In addition to Messenger's voice transcription capability, the firm announced buying a successful boutique design firm which has created popular mobile applications and online services, including the read-later app Readability and the rising blogging platform Medium.

Google Hangouts gains smart location sharing, statuses, deeper Voice integration and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 6, 2015

Google on Tuesday added new features to its Hangouts app for the iPhone and iPad, namely deeper integration with its Voice telephony service, a pretty smart way to share your location with others, the ability to tell your friends what you're up to via status messages and more.

Today's refresh follows last month's Android app update which introduced a similar set of enhancements. These newly introduced features are available on iOS right now so go ahead and download Hangouts free in the App Store and take the app for a spin.

BBM updated with stickers in group chats, iPhone 6 and iOS 8 compatibility improvements and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 30, 2014

Following last month's preview of a major new update to its BBM for iPhone messaging software, BlackBerry today released BBM 2.6.1.31 featuring an improved support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus alongside additional iOS 8 compatibility updates and other enhancements.

There's a new timer option and you'll also notice certain improvements for the message retraction feature and refinements to timed pictures and messages.

Facebook Messenger gains read receipts, fresh holiday content and a huge speed boost

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2014

Facebook-owned WhatsApp quietly introduced blue-ticked read confirmations in its mobile iPhone app a month and a half ago and now the social networking behemoth has refreshed its backend to bring read receipts to Messenger for iOS and Android.

And with Christmas around the corner, the company is helping us celebrate the upcoming festivities by adding holiday-themed content to Messenger like fresh sticker packs, a new festive frame and more.

As if that wasn't enough, Facebook's engineers have done a lot of work under the hood to make the app more fluid and responsive than ever before.