Official Facebook Messenger app hits BlackBerry

By Adam Zeis on 19 Oct 2011 05:14 pm

The official Facebook Messenger app has been available on both iOS and Android since launch, and today it finally made its way to BlackBerry. The app is really just a quick way to send messages to your friends through Facebook, and they are delivered through notifications and texts to their device. This way you won't have to struggle deciding if you should send a text or email, and you'll know the person will receive the message when they're on the go.

More and more of us rely on our phones to send and receive messages. But it isn't always easy to know the best way to reach someone on their phone. Should you send an email or text? Which will they check first? Did they even get your last message?

We think messaging should be easier than that. You should be able to write a message, click "Send" and know that you will reach the person right away.

Messenger is a separate app, so it only takes one click to get to your messages or send a new one. Messages are delivered through notifications and texts, so your friends are more likely to get them right away.

You can use Messenger to reach all of your friends -- whether they're on Facebook or in your phone contacts. All you have to do is type the person's name.

The Facebook Messenger app is a free download and is available for most devices. Check out more at the Facebook blog, or hit the link below to download OTA to your device.

Download Facebook Messenger for BlackBerry

Topics: Facebook News & Rumors BlackBerry Apps

Adam Zeis 3118 (articles) 2800 (forum posts)

62 comments

ObiGeorge Oct 19, 2011 at 5:22 pm

I'm just commenting so no one says first. Have a good day.

CrackBerryTorch9800 Oct 19, 2011 at 5:28 pm

1st real comment! :)

SurrealCivic Oct 19, 2011 at 5:29 pm

Another reason to use BBM less.

shahriyar Oct 19, 2011 at 5:31 pm

fb messenger is waste

world traveler and former ceo Oct 19, 2011 at 5:41 pm

+10000

07thking Oct 20, 2011 at 10:25 am

+ 1, totally useless, redundant.

guerllamo7 Oct 19, 2011 at 5:46 pm

You may need to learn more about BBM and its capabilities. There is just no comparison.

with BBM you control everything. You only get contacts or messages you approve and this is why it is popular with celebrities. They don't want to get swamped with a bunch of solicitations or people they did not invite to BBM.

Some people may not know that BlackBerry allows you to block all text messages from people not on your contact list.

Additionally, during the natural disasters in N.Y. the only way to reach your loved ones was with BBM.

Secure, fast, and fun to use. Seriously, you should consider the new BBM integrated games. They are fun and BB Music is already going in England. I'm assuming you have BBM and a BlackBerry because otherwise you would have not intelligent reason to be on this website.

UnknownError507 Oct 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm

BBM - FOR LIFE! lol

jtels2593 Oct 19, 2011 at 8:32 pm

I downloaded this app and was not at all impressed. The layout, the icon, no delete feature, same thing as fb chat. I find BBM pointless anymore. Back in '09 I had over 15 BBM contacts, today I have none. Not one of my friends uses a Blackberry. So I ask, what's the point of having BBM when you have no one to talk to on it?

papped Oct 19, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Lol, FB messenger as a BBM replacement... You didn't need BBM at all in the first place if you can actually manage that

Connor83 Oct 19, 2011 at 5:35 pm

With having the facebook app, whats the ponit of this?

mssca Oct 19, 2011 at 6:36 pm

Same here.... I have no idea, why need this one!

olafson Oct 19, 2011 at 5:36 pm

"It isn't always easy to know the best way to reach someone on their phone. Should you send an email or text?"

Thanks for the laugh! That's just precious. Personally, whenever I can't decide I just, you know, phone them.

3Dee Oct 19, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Ha ha, phones make and receive calls, are you sure? ;) That was a funny statement.

UnknownError507 Oct 19, 2011 at 5:47 pm

i dont see the point of this app while already the FB app from RIM has integrate chat...hmm should i sent a msg..or...no lets chat on the FB.

Devon2000 Oct 19, 2011 at 5:47 pm

I was about to say the same thing.

iPhoneTHS Oct 19, 2011 at 5:56 pm

Why don't we block, eradicate, ban, DEMOLISH anything that duplicates something we already have? You've a Pinto. WTH cares about an Audi? Does variety ring a bell? RIM doesn't compare, they're slow (well this is a bit true, but ANYWAY), outdated, etc., but yet when they give you something different you rant about it's existence.

You're some of the same folks that post Apple this and that. They have like what, a gazzillion apps. And not one is a duplicate? SMDH, tisk, tisk, tisk...

8330 - 8530 - 9630 - 9650 - PlayBook - 9930!
Once you go Bold, you never go back...

JustinGTP Oct 19, 2011 at 5:54 pm

Why do we need this when we have the messages in the FB for BB application?

I know it says it's a one click application just for messages. But I don't need the messages going to two places. Not necessary, IMO.

Joy1980 Oct 19, 2011 at 6:07 pm

I frankly I am only happy to see it because it would be one less thing to the other platforms can point to and say, even Facebook has decided to ignore BBs.

zoryad Oct 20, 2011 at 6:48 am

In Russia we don't have a BBM officially due the national security. So I think it can be useful.

yvpan1 Oct 19, 2011 at 6:02 pm

i don't really get it as well IMHO, the new FB app for android/iOS/BB has had a major revamp which gives us an almost PC-like UI, including the integrated FB messages & FB chat inside the app, but then the messenger arrives. well.. isn't it redundant??

Come on facebook, what's happening back there? are you trying to imitate G+ coz google has got its gtalk?? but.. yeah, finally BB also gets the app as well, thank you for that.

but yeah, i've downloaded this app on my 9780 (since i don't know whether this app is fully compatible for OS 7 so i haven't installed that on my 9900), overall the UI is ok, but yeah, a bit redudant i guess, i have the FB app then the FB messenger. but it seems that.. the FB messenger doesn't work in the background, when you hit the return key, the app seems to close down and you need to relaunch it when you need it, a bit different to other messenger like BBM/whatsapp/YM/Gtalk/WLM which is able to run in the background.

belfastdispatcher Oct 19, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Works fine on my 9900

victoriak68 Oct 19, 2011 at 6:24 pm

"Official" Facebook messenger app for BlackBerry. A date late and a dollar short. Stupid thing should have been released before the Facebook app implemented its messenger.

LuayS Oct 19, 2011 at 6:31 pm

I think we're all confused by this, but maybe its for people that just want chat and not full facebook?

crigga84 Oct 19, 2011 at 6:38 pm

I like the layout of this app because its like bbm.

Wish the Blackberry app was the same.

Smartie020 Oct 19, 2011 at 6:40 pm

Would love to use BBM more often, but nearly everybody got any iphone or android

arturox Oct 19, 2011 at 6:42 pm

Does not have the option to delete messages, really bad app, I prefer the blackberry one that is integrated on face app

theKHMERboy Oct 19, 2011 at 6:49 pm

i do not understand this... they update facebook 2.0 app so that it have chat intergtated with the app and now they have a seperate facebook chat app.. what is the point just a waste of space on your phone

nasigorengpete Oct 19, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Tried to send a photo to my friend and it crashed my BB, had to do a battery pull. LOL
I deleted it straight away.
I dont like Facebook chat anyway...

jbiggdaddy Oct 19, 2011 at 7:01 pm

I agree its kind of a waste. FB has a chat feature inside and also if you have your FB friends synced up in your BB contacts you can message them from there without logging on.

RPM_KW Oct 19, 2011 at 7:02 pm

I am wondering if this will have something to do with the video chat stuff that is coming to facebook?

japz2fast Oct 19, 2011 at 7:13 pm

no new features....if you have the facebook app that's all you'll need =)

belfastdispatcher Oct 19, 2011 at 7:19 pm

You can send photos, can't with the facebook app.

belfastdispatcher Oct 19, 2011 at 7:19 pm

I smell the death of cross platform messengers, this will replace them all.

Will not replace BBM though.

carlyincanada Oct 19, 2011 at 7:59 pm

OMG!! My head is spinning from the last few days trying to figure out wth RIM is doing!! Betweem my BB Curve 9300 apps & Playbook 32G apps...I'm getting totally confused, lol

Why do we need all this stuff????

TIMSHULL Oct 19, 2011 at 8:39 pm

LAME,you can already send a private message via fb ??????

rollingrock1988 Oct 19, 2011 at 9:24 pm

My friends list won't load so I can't actually send anything nor can I see who is online to chat with.

Unless this is literally just a message app- like email.

fmemon Oct 19, 2011 at 9:30 pm

downloaded and deleted. The interface is nice and smooth, however it does everything the rim fb app does, but less...It would be nice if it replace the chat, but other than that its a waste space in my blackberry.

mkye86 Oct 19, 2011 at 9:34 pm

This whole time I was thinking this was another FB Chat. I also thought what's the point. BBs FB App has a pretty nice chat already. This only gives u acces 2 ur messages. Its actually a pretty nice app except that u can't delete messages, only archive them. I agree the Icon needs some work. This kind of turns ur FB in2 an email client more than anything. I like and it may be useful since I don't always get my FB messages pushed 2 my . Don't know why that is.

kiesibw Oct 19, 2011 at 9:53 pm

I wish I didn't attempt to download this app. It crashed my Bold 9650 (version 6) and my phone keeps constantly rebooting. Now I need to figure out how to recover. :(

scootnyinzer Oct 19, 2011 at 10:09 pm

If someone sends me a FB message, It already shows up on the BB message app, plus I get a FB notification. AM I missing something?? I'm using BeeJive to put my FB and Gmail chat contacts. I don't have any BBM contacts. Most of my friends with Berries SMS like crazy and don't even know what BBM is or what a BB pin is.

iToya Oct 19, 2011 at 10:35 pm

This app gets a womp from me. FB app has messenging and chat already...I barely use facebook anymore, but with text, email, twitter, bbm...and duhr my blackberry is a phone, I'm sure I can get in touch with the lames on facebook..

nikit3 Oct 19, 2011 at 10:58 pm

Sucks, After reading the bad comments abt this messenger, I installed to see how bad it really is...I installed this app but it just won't open!!!
BB is way too evolved to run some crap like this :p

flash24 Oct 19, 2011 at 11:15 pm

I don't understand why people cry too much...it's free!

Mvor7 Oct 20, 2011 at 1:15 am

It's actually pretty sweet. Fast and well integrated. Love it.

iterumruditleo Oct 20, 2011 at 1:36 am

I'm trying it and it's really really a fast app!
Now I'm waiting to receiving a message in order to see if I'll have a double notification or not, and which one will notify first. Anyway, it's a good app. I would be interested in a full facebook app developed by facebook itself!

Aalejandro Oct 20, 2011 at 1:39 am

Seeing that the Native FB app doesnt deliver private messages anymore stopped working this will surely come in handy at times

tedesco Oct 20, 2011 at 2:05 am

Well it may come in handy. Some of us are having some issues getting facebook messages notifcations. Sad we need a separate app, but this is a good round about way to solve my problem for now. Otherwise... I don't see the point except that Facebook is trying to also enter the chat world.

Other than that... this thing found messages I thought I deleted about 4 years ago... We all have a lot of baggage/skeletons and facebook tracks it for us.

kolokmee Oct 20, 2011 at 5:42 am

sucks your bb batt like no tomorrow. down to 30% in a matter of a few hours. pls delete this app!

EraticKnight Oct 20, 2011 at 7:25 am

This application made my Facebook for BlackBerry not receive inbox messages anymore and this is shit slow!!!

zensen Oct 20, 2011 at 8:38 am

waste of space.

gordonzhao Oct 20, 2011 at 8:53 am

For the ones who use Facebook chat, kudos to you. You'll never catch me on there, I'm even logged out of chat on the browser. I don't need people to know when I'm on Facebook. It's bad enough they know what I'm doing on Facebook. ; )

crypticro Oct 20, 2011 at 9:35 am

what is the purpose of this app? why would I use a Facebook messenger app instead of the Facebook application by RIM? Its even worse....

Red_Virus Oct 20, 2011 at 10:35 am

The App sucks and i am deleting it now.

BlackB_G Oct 20, 2011 at 11:06 am

Ya'll are just extremely judgemental and moan before you even try. I've been using it on my 9360 since last night and it is so fast compared to the BB FB app. Messages come in really quick and somehow it just cuts out the issues of messages not coming though at times via the BB FB app etc. Also once received your messages will not come in twice i.e also to the BB FB app.

I think it's brill. Thank you again blackberry.

EgoAleSum Oct 20, 2011 at 12:51 pm

This will likely not cause big issues to BBM users...

But I believe Whatsapp is now officially dead :)

dadathepanda Oct 20, 2011 at 1:05 pm

useless since FB app has messenger built in.

mduck Oct 20, 2011 at 2:03 pm

I've been experiencing serious delay of personal message with the native facebook app, so this messenger just made up that loop hole :)

I really quite like this messenger, very instant, and photo attachment is allowed :D

Just that it seems it's a bit of a battery eater...mmm...

blake2161 Oct 22, 2011 at 10:42 pm

I can only get Version 1.0.89 to load. It appears that Version 1.5 has more features. I using my Torch 9800 on BB 6. Is V 1.5 only for BB 7? Thanks

deuceph Feb 23, 2012 at 11:24 pm

This is useful for me because it's just like receiving text messages. I don't have to log in to facebook.

nellisere Nov 5, 2012 at 5:18 am

Not sure if anyone will have the answer to this, but the older versions of Facebook MEssenger had a persistant connection, so it could give you "push" noitifications even without BIS, now I'm wondering, because that isn't an option anymore, do you still get a persistant connection on the new app, because I can't get BIS for another 2 months so need this persistant connection.

Aldi Sakobar Mar 26, 2013 at 8:27 am

hi ♦-

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