
Away from your computer? Don’t want to see everyone’s updates? Is the newsfeed slowing down your Facebook app?
Facebook Messenger is a relatively new app that allows people to use Facebook’s instant messaging tool, Facebook Chat. Facebook Messenger is free and available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
Below is a brief tutorial for how you can download, and use, Facebook Messenger.
Go to your respective mobile store
The Facebook Messenger app is easy to find. Once you go into the respective App Store or Android Market, type in “Facebook Messenger in the search bar located at the top. Look for the “free” button to continue, then download it onto your mobile phone.
You can also download it onto your BlackBerry (or iPhone or Android) by going to fb.me/msgr.
Once it’s downloaded …
After you’ve downloaded Facebook Messenger, now you’re ready to chat with friends and contacts. The app allows you to message friends one-on-one or you can start a group conversation.
Those who are using an iPhone or Android and are listed in your contacts will receive your message as a text. Messages sent to Facebook friends via other mobile devices will either arrive on a user’s Messenger app or as part of their Facebook messages if they don’t have the Messenger app.
To send a message, simply click on the link located at the upper right of your screen. Once there, you can see who’s using their mobile device and who’s online. You can also search for friends or contacts. This also allows you to send or take photos and to map your location.
What can I do with Messenger?
Messenger gives you options. Features include:
* Message friends or groups or anyone in your contacts;
* Receive notifications so that you don’t receive a mobile message;
* Send photos with your message;
* Ability to continue conversations started on Facebook
* Map your current location and find friends;
* Send messages to people who do not have Facebook Messenger on their mobile device (the message will come in as a text).
You can also play around with your settings, like setting the sound your phone makes when a message comes in. To get back to the messenger’s main screen, click on the link at the upper right of your screen.
When messages come in as texts
Messages that are sent as texts will include your message along with a list of everyone else in the conversation. Recipients, though, can control what messages they receive. To stop a conversation, click on Mute; Unmute resumes the conversation. If you don’t want to ever receive texts again from a particular user, click Stop. You can resume your conversation by clicking On.
Faster, easier way to chat with Facebook friends
Compared to Facebook Chat, Facebook Messenger is a faster way to message friends and contacts when you’re using a mobile device. You can reach friends on their phones, send and receive messages fast and message everyone simultaneously.

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