Facebook Desktop Messenger is a lightweight and extremely simple to handle piece of software whose main function resides in helping you carry out conversations with friends and acquaintances on. Dec 03, 2020 To create a group chat on Facebook, first open the Facebook Messenger app on your phone or tablet, or messenger.com on a computer. Then, tap the notepad icon at the upper-right corner to create a new chat. In the search bar at the top of the screen, type the name of the first person you want to add.
Facebook allows its users to privately message each other through private messaging. This applies to both individual users and business to customer conversations. However, messaging on desktop takes place on Facebook chat while on mobile it takes place on a standalone Facebook application called Messenger.
They are not the same thing – as an avid user you will quickly notice that there are certain things that you can do on the desktop that you can’t do on the mobile version of the Facebook chat – and vice versa. What are the key similarities and differences between Facebook Chat and Messenger? See below so it doesn’t take you by surprise when you’re on the go!
- Facebook Chat and Messenger Key Similarities
- Facebook Chat vs Messenger Key Differences
- Conclusion
1. Facebook Chat And Messenger – Key Similarities
Facebook chat and Messenger have evolved over the years to create an ecosystem that is well integrated. In this ecosystem, there are several things you can do on both desktop and mobile versions of the Facebook chat. These include:
Video and Voice Calls
Facebook chat and messenger allow users to make video and voice calls. For both desktop and mobile, you are able to initiate either video or voice calls by clicking on the buttons at the top of the chatbox.
Group chats
On both Facebook chat and Messenger, users are able to create group chats and add more than one participant.
Image and video sharing
Users can share videos and images within both Facebook Chat and Messenger.
In addition, they can also share GIFs, emojis, and stickers to react to conversations.
Messenger Rooms
Facebook rooms are video chats between one or more users (maximum 50 people) who are in a particular group. This is like a virtual group hangout. The feature is on Facebook Chat for desktop and Messenger for mobile. Anyone who is in your chat group can easily join the video chat within the created room for that specific group. In addition, anyone who has the link to the messenger room can click to join the video chat.
This is slightly different from the video call feature in that, with a video call you are calling only one user at a time and no one else can join.
Conversations actions
Users can mute conversations between them and other users for a few hours, allowing them to pause chats when they do not have time to attend to them.
In addition, users can also ignore, delete or block other conversations depending on their preferred action.
These conversation actions are also available on both desktop chat and mobile.
Make payments
Facebook Instant Messenger Download Desktop
Facebook allows you to send money to businesses or people through Facebook Chat and Messenger. It is therefore easy to pay or request payment for services received directly within the private message.
2. Facebook Chat vs Messenger – Key Differences
We have now looked at the key features that are shared between Facebook Chat on desktop and Messenger on mobile in the previous section. In this section, we look at the key differences to understand what we can and cannot do for either platform.
Sending Files
This is a major difference to remember. Facebook chat enables users to share files in various formats like PDF, Word and Excel documents.
However, on Messenger for mobile (iOS and Android), it is not possible to share the same files with other users.
Messenger Stories
On Messenger, you can quickly view stories under the people section.
On the desktop Facebook Chat, you cannot view user stories. However, the user stories on the desktop are available at the top of the newsfeed.
Location sharing
This feature is only available on Messenger for mobile and not on Facebook chat for desktop. Instead of sharing your location through a separate app in the chat, Facebook has built a location-sharing feature within Messenger that allows your friends to follow your live location for close to an hour.
Facebook Desktop Chat Download
Sync and Text Contacts
Aside from being used as a messaging app over the internet, Messenger can also be used as the main texting app for mobile. It syncs all your contacts’ phone numbers and if enabled, takes over as your main texting application.
The Facebook Chat for desktop does not have this feature.
Multi-tasking (chat heads)
The mobile app, Messenger, enables users to multitask between conversations. This is because when chatting with other users, the chat button appears as a small chat head over your mobile screen.
You can switch from another application to the chat head as you please. You can also have more than one chat and switch between the chat heads.
Audio clips (press and hold for the audio clip)
Aside from doing a voice call, the Messenger app has a feature that allows users to chat using audio clips if they are tired of typing or just prefer audio chatting. To send an audio clip, the user has to press the mic button and hold it while they speak.
When they release the button their message is sent as an audio clip. This feature is not available on Facebook Chat.
Play games
Messenger lets you launch and play games with your friends through the chat. However, you cannot play these games directly from Facebook Chat for desktop.
You can also play games in a group chat. There is no need to install any new application in order to play games on mobile.
Conclusion
Now you know the similarities between Facebook chat and Messenger and what you can or cannot do on either desktop or mobile. It is important to note that Messenger is also available on the desktop via Messenger.com or by installing Messenger from Windows or Apple store as a standalone desktop application.
Something else to note is that Messenger has all the features available on Facebook Chat. However, Facebook Chat on the desktop does not have some of Messenger’s features as seen above.
You can now use Chat and Messenger understanding fully what each can and cannot do on desktop and mobile.
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Chatting on Facebook was the most difficult thing for me as it used to keep you restrict to your Facebook Page, not letting you do anything else. While being engaged on other tasks you needed to keep visiting your Facebook profile all the time to keep the conversation going, which sometimes, or rather, most of the times became a nuisance. Facebook has always been active in unraveling user issues and with the official release of Facebook Chat Instant Messenger (IM), you can keep the world with you from your desktop. This means, no more Facebook opened on browser needed to stay in touch with your Facebook List.
With Facebook’s official release of the IM tool, users can keep a hold on all happening event and getting notified for every single move on their Facebook profile on their desktop. Saving the login time for you, this Facebook Chat Messenger allows you to access your Facebook chats, notifications, friend requests and messages from your desktop. Facebook desktop chat messenger has been designed keeping the traditional IM messengers like MSN and Yahoo’s. you can now chat with all your friends at a time, on a single window, meanwhile doing all your important works on your browser.
Facebook has ensured the security plan for its users as when you receive a third party notification where you need to request page for permission, the Facebook chat redirects you to that particular page where are then required to sign inn with username and password. Its important to mention here that if you are not using your personal computers, then Facebook Chat messenger can turn out to be a disaster for you if you forget to close it before you sign it out from your Facebook Profile.
The New Facebook application, just like the Facebook timeline is experiencing mix feedbacks from the Facebook users. Discussing its merit and demerit will let you decided whether its an smart utility tool for you or simply a new menace.
The IM Chat Messenger ensures the user security as it redirects to the Facebook page on clicking the third party application. With IM Chat, Facebook Chat was never too fast and entertaining. The simple chat interface is the most attracting feature. Just like Facebook Mobile app, the installation of this tool is extremely easy. if you have not get your hands on it, you will see an installation link on the bottom right of your Facebook that will allow you to keep yourself updated with fast notifications and easy access to your chat room.
On the contrary, it’s a wonder how Facebook can overlook such basic needs of an Instant Messaging tool. You will be surprised to know that there is no visibility option in this tool. This means that you can never get to know which friend of yours is online. This restricts you to start a conversation yourself, letting the IM Messaging only functional when your friends feel like conversing with you. There is a severe compatibility issue with different operating systems like Linux and Mac. Although it works completely fine with all windows versions, still a great market can not avail the application.
To me, Facebook chat messenger is an average tool which has got a room for a lot of improvement. It’s too early to expect better versions of this IM application, so for the time being enjoy being connected to your Facebook friend list simply from your desktop.
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