Facebook Messenger Lite Is a Simple Version That Works Even With a Partial Data Connection
Once upon a time, the Facebook Messenger app was just a way to send a chat message to your friends. Over the years, the social network has loaded the app with features such as the ability to send GIFs, play games with friends, or even send cash. The app has its own personal assistant and now when you open it, you also get a punch in the face with all of your friend’s stories. That’s a lot of information, and it takes a decent amount of bandwidth to run and display all of this information on your phone.
So Facebook made Messenger Lite some time ago. Basically, it’s the same messaging app, only stripped down, so it works even on the craziest networks. The app was originally developed for use in markets such as developing countries where high-speed data is not as readily available or as cheap as in the United States. However, this week Facebook made the app available to everyone in the United States using an Android device (unfortunately, there is no iOS version).
With it, you can send messages, including stickers, images, videos and emoticons, as well as make voice calls (without video chat) … and that’s it.
There are several reasons why you might want to install it:
It uses less data
The whole idea behind Messenger Lite is to use as little data as possible. The file size for the app is less than 10MB, and since it supports text messaging, you won’t get into a situation where the app collects data for things like GIFs or extra features that you don’t intend to use. use.
If you are using an unlimited data plan in the US, it doesn’t really matter. If you are traveling abroad on a limited plan, or have limits on the amount of data you can use in your plan here, then upgrading to the light version of the app can make a huge difference.
More places will work
Since it deals with smaller amounts of data, messages in the Lite app will load faster and you are more likely to receive them in areas with uneven or slow connections. It will also work on some pretty old devices. To use Messenger Lite, your phone must be running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).
You can opt out of all additional services
Hate Facebook personal assistant M? So do I. Don’t want to get addicted to watching your friend’s stories on Facebook every time you open the app? Ever plan to use one of these lenses for in-camera selfies? You are missing out, but okay. Messenger Lite is made for you.
You won’t be able to use all of the other Messenger features (some of which, like paying your friends, are actually pretty good IMO), but you still get the basic chat functionality that the Messenger app is. should be about to start.