engine - 7:05 pm on Dec 5, 2012 (gmt 0)

Facebook revamped its Facebook Messenger service today in an attempt to get people to dump mobile-phone text messaging in favor of something more sophisticated. Facebook Messenger today is essentially an instant-messaging network, complete with separate apps to use the service. But with the new incarnation, people need only a phone number, and no Facebook account, said Peter Deng, Facebook's director of communications product management, at the LeWeb show here. The service is available initially in South Africa, India, Australia, Argentina, and Venezuela, he said, and in India's case in partnership with a carrier. Facebook Messenger App Gets a Facelift [news.cnet.com]

Earlier story
Orange Announces Social Calling Network "Party Call" For Facebook [webmasterworld.com]