Hey there, big news on the horizon! So, you know that slimmed-down version of Messenger called Messenger Lite for Android? Well, it’s getting ready to take a bow. The folks over at Meta (you might remember them as Facebook) have spilled the beans that they’re saying goodbye to Messenger Lite.
Here’s the scoop: If you’ve been using Messenger Lite, you might have noticed a little message popping up, suggesting you shift over to the regular Messenger app for your chitchats. And guess what? The Messenger Lite app isn’t gonna be up for grabs on the Google Play Store anymore for new folks. And for the loyal users already on board, it’s going to vanish into thin air by September 18.
So, what led to this dramatic farewell? Back in 2016, Meta came up with Messenger Lite for Android. This was like the ‘Lite’ version of your favorite chat app, designed especially for those Android devices that aren’t exactly supercharged. It had all the basic Messenger features, but it was a lightweight champ that didn’t hog your storage or slow down your phone.
But wait, there’s more to this story. There was also a Messenger Lite for iOS, but that ship sailed in 2020 when Meta decided to pull the plug on it. So, if you’re an Apple user, you might remember that short-lived affair.
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Now, here’s an interesting tidbit: A bunch of folks across the globe seemed to have taken a liking to these Lite versions. Mobile analytics wizards say that the combined downloads for both these apps hit a whopping 760 million. Can you believe that? India was leading the pack, followed by Brazil and Indonesia. And guess where the good ol’ United States ranked? Yep, it stood at a respectable No. 8.
But hang on, there’s another twist. As if the Messenger Lite news wasn’t enough, Meta’s got a little surprise up its sleeve for Messenger users. They’re waving goodbye to SMS support. Yep, you heard that right. Starting September 28, after updating your app, you won’t be able to use Messenger for those regular SMS messages your phone gets from your cellular network.
But it’s not all farewells and goodbyes in Meta-land. They’ve got some big plans, too. By the end of this year, they’re planning to turn on fancy-sounding ‘end-to-end encryption’ for Messenger by default. What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s like adding an extra layer of privacy to your messages, making sure that only you and the person you’re chatting with can read them. And that’s not all – they’re also expanding this encryption thingy to even more people’s chats.
So, there you have it – a bit of a mixed bag from Meta. Some apps are saying their goodbyes, others are getting a privacy boost, and we’re all here just trying to keep up with the tech tango!
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