Facebook is expanding the reach of its mobile messenger application to even non-Facebook users - a move expected to grow its user base and accelerate its mobile revenue. According to its new initiative, anyone with a mobile phone can now sign up for Facebook Messenger with just a name and phone number.
"Starting today, you can create a Messenger account with just your name and phone number, and start messaging your mobile contacts," Facebook said. The new app for Android phones is available in countries like India, Indonesia, Australia, Argentina, Venezuela, and South Africa for now.
Facebook Messenger was an app exclusive for its users to interact with other Facebook users through instant chat so far. With the latest roll out, the social networking giant is introducing a separate registration process focused on messaging with which users can send text, photos or any other content without signing up for a Facebook account.
"We're doing this because we're serious about messaging and realize that limiting the reach to just those on Facebook limits the ability for people to reach anyone in their address book," Facebook said in a statement.
The service is expected to be rolled out shortly in other regions including the United States and the Menlo Park Company is currently working on a similar version of its Messenger app for Apple's mobile iOS, although it did not give an exact launch date.
