Facebook has a new messaging app for emerging markets

Social media giant, Facebook has launched a new messaging app, Facebook Messenger Lite to give users in emerging markets with slower phones and poor internet speeds a decent way to access the social network.

In a blog post, the social network noted that Messenger Lite was a “slimmed down version of Messenger that offers the core features of Messenger for markets with slower than average internet speeds and a prevalence of basic Android smartphones.”

Users are able to quickly and easily send text, photos and links to anyone using Messenger or Messenger Lite. However, the new Lite app will not have full access to other features such as bots that Facebook recently introduced. The size of the app is less than 10MB and it comes with typical Messenger functions. The colours of icons on Facebook Messenger Lite are also reversed – it is blue on white instead of white on blue.

Analysts say the release of apps could be part of Facebook’s strategy to gain market advantage in emerging markets. Already the Messenger Lite is rolling out in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venzuela with launch in other countries said to follow within months.

At the moment, Google’s Android mobile operating system is the dominant player in emerging markets over rival Apple’s iOS, due to lower cost of the devices that run on software. In 2015, Facebook released Facebook Lite for Android users in emerging markets.

Tom Mulcahy, engineering manager for Messenger Lite wrote in a blog post, “Messenger Lite was built to give people a great Messenger experience no matter what technology they use or have access to.”

In August, the company also moved to boost internet connectivity and affordability in Nigeria with Facebook Express Wi-Fi.
 FRANK ELEANYA