Facebook Launches Standalone Messenger for the Web

Facebook is putting that Messenger.com domain to good use: The social network just launched a Messenger client on the Web that separates it from the Facebook.com homepage.

With Messenger.com, Facebook is clearly gearing users up for its upcoming Messenger Business integration, in which users can chat directly with companies about product questions, purchase updates and shipment tracking.

In our quick run-through, it doesn’t appear the third-party app integrations announced at F8 are available just yet. For example, if you want to share Giphy content straight from Web FB Messenger, you’ll have to resort to doing it the old-fashioned way: Copy and pasting a link, or uploading the GIF image file.

The Web version is currently available in English only – support for additional languages will follow.

To get started, just log onto Messenger.com with your Facebook account. The browser will pull in your current chats and display them in full-screen, making image, sticker and GIF shares more visually appealing.

You can also make calls with the telephone or video button at the top right menu bar; clicking either option will open a call interface in a new window – akin to what Google has done with Hangouts.

A gear button on the upper left corner allows you to make setting adjustments, such as sound and desktop notifications. You also get the option to manage your Blocked list, but this link takes you back to the Facebook homepage.

There are no words on whether Facebook will push chat threads from its homepage to Messenger.com, or if a desktop client is coming. We certainly could envision Facebook developing one if it plans to continue building Messenger out as a full platform for chat and social commerce.