Facebook has finally launched an official Messenger desktop app for PC and Mac. Even if the timing wasn’t planned, it will be welcome for many as much of the world is in lockdown and working from home during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The app brings full text chat and video calling functionality from the mobile app and is available to download now for both PC and Mac. The software looks a lot like the redesigned Facebook desktop site and the updated Messenger mobile app, with simple UI and a dark mode option.
Image: FacebookIt could prove canny timing as apps like Houseparty and Zoom have shot up in popularity thanks to multiple person video calling. On a larger computer display, it might be easier for many people to use Messenger completely free instead of Zoom, whose free tier limits video calls to 40 minutes for calls with over three people.
“Now more than ever, people are using technology to stay in touch with the people they care about, even when physically apart. Over the past month, we saw more than a 100% increase in people using their desktop browser for audio and video calling on Messenger”, VP of Messenger Stan Chudnovsky said in a blog post announcing the launch.
“We hope the Messenger desktop app will make it a little bit easier for people to stay in touch with friends and loved ones during this time.”
Author: Henry Burrell, Phones Editor
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.