Facebook will stop messaging in regular iPhone and Android app this week

Facebook is going to force iPhone and Android users to switch to the Messenger app in a few days if they want to use instant messaging via the social network even longer. The company will stop messaging through the regular iPhone and Android app.

“Over the next few days, we’ll be telling more people to download the Messenger app if they want to send and receive Facebook messages,” Facebook told TechCrunch. The service thinks that the separation will allow it to better focus on the development of Messenger as a messaging app and the regular app for other Facebook functionality. In addition, users on Messenger would also respond faster to messages and send more photos, video and audio messages. Messenger has more than 200 million monthly users.

Facebook started trying to move European users to the Messenger app at the beginning of April, but is now going to do that for all users of the regular iOS and Android app for Facebook. Users of Facebook on the mobile site, Windows Phone, Paper, feature phones and the desktop are still excluded from the forced migration for the time being.