*SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook on Tuesday announced an overhaul of its Messengersmartphone app in an effort to simplify the service for its 1.3 billionmonthly global users.*
The social network began rolling out a redesigned version featuring threetabs instead of nine, saying it was “going back to its roots” seven yearsafter the standalone app’s launch.
“We build one feature after another; they’re piling up,” Messenger chiefStan Chudnovsky said of the service, which has grown from a simplemessaging app to one that lets users make video calls, send money and more.
The updated tabs allow users to navigate between their conversations under“Chats,” stories and contacts at “People,” and “Discovery,” which isdevoted to games and exchanges with businesses.
Facebook has positioned Messenger as a tool for businesses to efficientlyhandle customer questions or concerns.
Talking to customers via the app is free — but businesses can also pay forFacebook ads that let customers start a conversation or visit their pagewith one click.
Messenger is part of Facebook’s effort to expand outside the social network— particularly when it comes to staying relevant to mobile lifestyles andyounger people, who have been moving away from the service.