Facebook takes step to integration with Messenger-Instagram chat

The company is starting with Messenger and Instagram and has been testing the ability to send messages between the two since the summer. It will start rolling out the feature to all users over the coming weeks. — AFP

Facebook Inc said some users can now send messages between Messenger and Instagram – the first step toward a full integration of the company’s three separate social media services.

Executives are also considering adding a limited version of Messenger to Facebook’s main app as a way to encourage new users to communicate with other people without downloading a separate app, Messenger vice-president Stan Chudnovsky said. Messenger was originally part of Facebook’s flagship app, but was spun out on its own in 2014 despite pushback from users.