Facebook Messenger is sunsetting its SMS support for Android users on September 28, 2023. The change was announced quietly on Meta’s support page on Monday. This means that if you currently use Messenger as your default SMS app, you will need to choose a new one before September 28. 

Facebook drops SMS support on Messenger

Meta (then Facebook) first added SMS support to its Messenger app in 2012, but it was discontinued in 2013. In 2016, the company brought back SMS support, this time with a few key changes. Most importantly, SMS messages were displayed in purple to distinguish them from online chats, which were displayed in blue.

However, the popularity of third-party SMS apps has been declining in recent years. Users are increasingly turning to web-based IM clients like Messenger and WhatsApp, which offer a wider range of features and functionality. 

Also, Messenger does not have access to modern IP-based Rich Communication Services (RCS), which Google has been focusing on in recent years. Google Messages, which is the default SMS app on most Android devices, handles both SMS and MMS messages and supports RCS. 

Google is pushing RCS as a replacement for SMS and MMS, which could further accelerate the decline of third-party SMS apps. In light of these trends, it is not surprising that Meta has decided to discontinue SMS support in Messenger for Android users. The company is likely focused on developing Messenger as a more social messaging app, rather than a general-purpose texting app. 

If you are an Android user who currently uses Messenger as your default SMS app, you should start planning to switch to a different app before September 28th. There are many great SMS apps available, such as Google Messages, Textra, and Pulse. You can read reviews of different apps to find one that best meets your needs.

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The post Facebook Messenger to drop SMS support next month appeared first on Gizmochina.

Facebook has finally began the public testing for the Dark Mode on Facebook’s main App. The company’s Official App has had the feature requested by users for a long time. In a Twitter post, a famous Reverse Engineer announced it publicly in collaboration with Facebook.

Jane Manchun Wong(@wongmjane) announced the update in a Twitter post(via Gadgets360). The video attached starts with him and Facebook’s Alexandru Voica chatting over the Dark Mode. In it, the latter says the “Dark Mode is rolling out today”. And the rest of the video switches to Dark Mode. And it shows a bit greyish UI than the previous build that leaked in 2019. However, it looks like Facebook is publicly testing it through a wider audience but not everyone. Accordingly, Facebook is yet to put out a public notice on its newsroom.

Facebook is publicly testing Dark Mode!

You asked it, I chatted with Facebook’s @alexvoica about it and here’s a video made in collaboration with Facebook! pic.twitter.com/TGjdTXDxoP

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) October 30, 2020

EDITOR’S PICK: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to receive cross chat feature: Report

Besides, the spokesperson has confirmed to XDA that the feature will soon pop up on the settings of the Facebook App as it rolls out the feature to Android & iOS globally. In case you get it soon enough, head over to settings from the top-right corner of the App. As you navigate to the Privacy option, you will find the Dark Mode toggle.

That said, unlike the Facebook Official App, its sisters like WhatsApp, Instagram, and even its Lite and the Messenger Apps already have Dark Mode. Earlier this year, WhatsApp finally received the feature after a lot of testing. And Messenger got it a year earlier. Facebook’s desktop UI also has dark mode which got a revamp back in May. Nevertheless, the update might seed out to a wider audience soon, and it’s best to have some patience till then.

UP NEXT: WhatsApp’s FAQ page explains how Disappearing Messages will work in the app

The post Facebook begins Public testing of Dark Mode for the Official App; Toggle will appear in Settings soon appeared first on Gizmochina.