Exactly one year since the “Lite” version of Facebook’s Messenger app was first released, it is now available for users in countries like the US and the UK.
Before that, the Android app was mainly available in around 100 developing markets, but now it appears to be available for download in countries like Singapore, where it was not previously available.
Messenger Lite runs identically to the regular Messenger, except it doesn't have the Snapchat Day Messenger-like feature or games - basically, it offers a better, faster experience.
Since the Lite app was always targeted at users in developing countries, who would likely be using lower-end to entry-level Android devices, Facebook does not have an iOS version and has no plans to create one, TechCrunch reports.
Facebook already had the Lite version of the main app since 2015. By February of this year, the user base of that app had swelled to 200 million.
Facebook says that with over a billion people still lacking faster 3G and 4G network coverage, these “lighter” apps are essential to gaining more users in new markets. As a result, Lite apps are smaller than 10MB to download and require fewer system resources.
Sounds like a pretty good move.
