Facebook has shown just how crucial Messenger is to its expansion plans, at the just concluded F8 developer conference in Silicon Valley. With these slew of announcements, it effectively completes the four-year-old software’s transformation from a lightweight chat app, spun off from the main Facebook site, into a fully-fledged platform of its own.
First off, Facebook announced a new Facebook Messenger Platform that will allow third-party apps to integrate with its popular Messenger app. The platform will allow users to launch and install other apps from the Facebook Messenger app itself that add additional features to the experience and allow users to easily share directly from Messenger, as pictured in the screenshots below. The new platform will launch with 40 supported apps initially, but Facebook is releasing an SDK today that will let any developers integrate with Messenger.
On the business side, Facebook Messenger’s 600 million-plus users will be able to instant message businesses to make reservations, check shipping information and handle general customer service issues, rather than have to search for phone numbers or e-mail contacts online with the newly launched Facebook Messenger Business.
As a customer, if you buy something with the app, you’ll have the option at check-out to connect to Facebook Messenger and have order details sent there. Then, instead of getting email alerts about shipping or customer service questions, you’ll get a notification within Messenger. You can also speak to the company via Messenger by writing a message like you would to any of your friends. Check on order status, request a different size, or put in another order.
The customer service component will be powered by Zendesk’s Zopim chat product.
Last week, Facebook unveiled plans to let users send and receive cash from one another through the Messenger app by connecting it with their debit card. Giving businesses a direct line to customers through Messenger could open up a new avenue for transactions.
Facebook isn’t the only one doing this. China’s WeChat service has gone even further by allowing its users to book taxis, pick cinema seats and find nearby restaurants among other actions.
