Facebook opens Messenger app to non-Facebook users

Facebook today announced that it would begin allowing non-Facebook users to use its standalone Messenger app on Android to send messages to the contacts in their phone book who are on Facebook or also use Messenger.

according to New York times,In India, Indonesia, Venezuela, Australia and South Africa, users who download the Android version of the app will be presented with the option of logging in with a phone number or connecting with a Facebook account.
Facebook seems to have realized the limited reach of Messenger as is and wants to let you message your contacts whether or not they’ve joined Facebook.

When non-Facebook users sign up, the app will suck in their contacts. Then they can be selected by name to start a message or group message thread. The expanded reach will help Facebook challenge SMS, as well as third-party, free texting apps like Pinger and WhatsApp, which we’ve heard Facebook has been considering acquiring.

Messenger for Android will be free and for now will show zero ads, giving it an advantage over similar communication apps that are paid or ad-supported.
Making product available to non-users is a bold but humble move for the company. It shows Facebook accepts that not everyone wants an account on its social network, but that it still hopes to provide those who do with the maximum utility.

How to get this app:

for existing user they dont have to pay anything simply text or send them photos.
Don’t expect a non-Facebook-users version of Facebook’s standalone Camera app because Messenger is entirely private and doesn’t rely on any other Facebook products like news feed.

The fact that its rollout starts in India where Facebook has just 65 million users out of a population of 1 billion is another indication that Facebook is still seeking signups.

The release aligns with Facebook allowing Android Messenger users to text non-Facebook users from within the app, which began in September.
It’s designed for these old phones, and they don’t take advantage of the location features, the touch screen, the picture taking that today’s phones have and that’s why we invested in it.” He also mentioned non-Facebook Messenger is coming to feature phones, too.