Facebook Messenger goes Open-Source at FB's F8 Conference

Facebook today at the F8 Conference in San Francisco, announced that the new Facebook Messenger app is going to be an Open-Source development project, and even Third-Party developers will be able to develop add-ons to work with the FB Messenger app. Now the Messenger app will allow you to add following along with your messages:

• personalized music messages
• animated photo effects

Facebook has also announced the Messenger Business which will allow users to communicate with merchants, like

• sending a direct message
• making a reservation
• checking shipping information

As of today, 40 apps support Facebook Messenger, but Facebook is encouraging developers to build its functionality into their own platforms moving forward. Many of the early partners working with Facebook Messenger are focused on photos and entertainment. Some apps were developed specifically for the platform, while others are building Messenger as an added feature.

The Apps that will be made to work with Facebook Messenger are said to be available to directly download from the Messenger app. You will now be able to add a Message button to our apps which allows our users to initiate a Message directly from your app.

Facebook wants to highlight its Messenger service and by allowing third-party interaction, it will surely get more traffic on the Messenger app.