Facebook Messenger 3.0 Gets iOS 7 Redesign, Lets You Text Non-Facebook Friends
Early last month, it was reported that Facebook would be releasing a significantly redesigned version of Facebook Messenger for iOS. Then, a couple of weeks ago, a preview of the new version emerged. Now, it's finally out in the form of Facebook Messenger 3.0.
As expected, Facebook Messenger 3.0 brings an all new design based, of course, on the visual style of iOS 7. This new design includes a new navigation scheme, with its bottom menu providing quick access to “Recent” conversations, “People” aka contacts, and “Settings.”
Under Settings, you can toggle the new in-app sound and vibrate functions. Here, among other options, you can also enable or disable Facebook Messenger’s syncing access to the contents of your device’s Contacts app. If enabled, this continuously syncs your contacts so that you can see who among your family, friends, and acquaintances are also using Facebook Messenger.
As it happens, upon launching Facebook Messenger 3.0 for the first time, you’re asked to enter your phone number. Only your Facebook friends can see this number on Facebook, but others can add you as a contact if they already have your phone number.
Conversely, you can also add a non-Facebook friend of yours as a contact and subsequently message him or her just by entering his or her phone number.
And now, you can see if a contact can be reached instantly as indicated by the blue Messenger badge on his or her avatar.
The main Facebook app for iOS has also just been updated, albeit with only a minor improvement, which fixes an issue that prevents some users from updating and sharing their status.
Facebook for iOS was previously updated last week with support for post editing on iPad in addition to iPhone and iPod touch. It’s expected to be updated next with Graph Search integration.
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