Facebook for the Web is Updating to the Messenger Interface

The Facebook Messenger platform has long been a stand-alone application. But a few days ago, the TechCrunch announced the unification of the social network and the messaging service, improving its functionalities.

From now on, the web version of Messenger will be integrated with the desktop version of the platform. The user will see how, when connected to the social network from the computer, the platform has incorporated a change in the message icon, located in the upper bar. The icon used so far has been replaced by the Messenger icon.

The new desktop input tray incorporates all key messaging features, including video chat, stickers, GIF and games.

Users now will also be able to search within the conversation in a simpler way, change the color of the conversation, replace the classic like button that comes by default for another, mute the notifications and access the Facebook profile of the person without having to enter the name in the search section.

The right-hand side of the screen introduces something new, too, as it displays the name of your friend in the selected chat, when they were recently active, and provides access to other Messenger features.

This includes the ability to search the conversation, edit nicknames, change the chat’s color, change emoji, and mute notifications. There’s also a link to the person’s Facebook profile, for easy access, and below that, are the photos you and the friend have shared in Messenger.

Meanwhile, at the top-right of the screen, there are buttons to initiate a call, video call, as well as an “i” icon in a rounded blue button that will hide the right-hand informational panel from the screen.

Other Messenger options are tucked away under the Settings icon on the top-left, including access to your “Message Requests” (the replacement for that hard-to-find “Other” inbox), Archived threads, a list of Active Contacts, and more.

Facebook did not make a formal announcement about the change. However, in the comments of a post by Facebook head David Marcus, he’s responding to a lot of feedback about the new upgrade to Messenger within Facebook, and summarized Facebook’s response in this comment.

With this change, the platform seeks a greater integration between the two applications: the general one and the one of messaging. The integration comes very well for those who prefer to use Facebook only from the web.