Facebook account no longer required for its Messenger app, initially in 4 countries

Soon, you may no longer need to sign in to Facebook's Messenger app on a mobile device using your Facebook credentials - if the social networking giant decides to roll this feature out worldwide.

 

Facebook is introducing a new feature letting users log in with their mobile numbers, though this will be initially available only in the US, Canada, Peru and Venezuela.

 

"With this update, more people can enjoy all the features that are available on Messenger – including photos, videos, group chats, voice and video calling, stickers and more. All you need is a phone number," software engineer Louis Boval said in a blog post.

 

With the new feature, users may see an option that says “Not on Facebook?” and sign up with their names, phone numbers and a photo.

 

But Boval said those with Facebook accounts still have many benefits to using Facebook credentials when logging into Messenger.

 

With Facebook credentials, Boval said people "can easily message with their Facebook friends and contacts, access their Facebook messages and take advantage of multi-device messaging across mobile devices, the web and tablets."

 

A separate report on 9to5google said those who sign up for Messenger without a Facebook account "can only communicate with other Messenger users who either have a Facebook account or who’ve also signed up without joining Facebook’s social network (discoverable by phone number)."

 

"The goal with this move is an interesting one as it has Messenger treading ever closer in similarity to WhatsApp, the messaging app popular internationally that Facebook acquired last year for an eye-popping $19 billion. Messenger closely trails WhatsApp in active user numbers – approximately 700 million versus 800 million – but WhatsApp is believed to have many active users who aren’t registered Facebook users, due to its incredible popularity in emerging markets like India and Asia," it added.

 

The update is available for iOS and Android users, but may take some time to propagate in the store, 9to5google added.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News