Menu

Facebook has launched a slimmed-down version of its flagship Messenger app for users in emerging markets with slower internet speeds and predominantly basic Android smartphones, according to a statement released on Monday.

The social media giant said the new app, called Messenger Lite, offers core Messenger features such as messaging, sending and receiving photos, links, and stickers. However, it does not have video or voice call capability. The app will be rolled out to Android users in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela. It will be made available to other emerging market countries in the coming months, the company said.

Driven by strong demand in emerging markets, Android-powered smartphones are the most popular brand of smartphones in the global marketplace, accounting for over 80 per cent of smartphones sold worldwide, according to Gartner, a leading information technology research and advisory company. In Africa, 89 per cent of all smartphones shipped during the first quarter of 2015 were powered by Android, according to a report by the International Data Corporation.

“More than 1 billion people around the world use Messenger every month from a range of mobile devices on networks of various speeds and reliability,” said Tom Mulcahy, Facebook’s Engineering Manager for Messenger Lite. “With Messenger Lite, more people can stay in contact, regardless of network conditions or storage limitations on their Android devices. Messenger Lite was built to give people a great Messenger experience, no matter what technology they use or have access to.”