Messenger Lite for Android hits Kenya, Tunisia

In its valiant attempt to connect the entire world using its software and infrastructure, Facebook has today announced a new lite version of one of its most popular apps — Messenger Lite.

As the name would suggest, Lite is a “slimmed down” version of the Messenger instant messaging app, and will be available for Android devices.

It’s primarily focused at budget Android devices running on slower, bandwidth-stricken networks.

“Messenger Lite is a slimmed down version of Messenger that offers the core features of Messenger for markets with slower than average internet speeds and a prevalence of basic Android smartphones,” explains Tom Mulcahy, the app’s engineering manager.

Facebook’s Messenger Lite boasts the same functionality of the parent app with less candy floss, smaller footprint

“With Messenger Lite, people are able to quickly and easily send text, photos and links to anyone using Messenger or Messenger Lite.”

Notably, the app now joins Facebook Lite as the company’s other budget smartphone app, and sees Facebook’s lower-end app bouquet take shape.

The app itself is much smaller than Messenger-proper — at 10MB — and boasts a simpler UI. The company however states that the core functions remain, including “messaging, sending and receiving photos and links, and receiving stickers”.

Lite will be rolled out to those in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela in due course, while “other countries” will receive the app in the coming months.