A lot of time has passed since Facebook first annoyed users by splitting off its chat features into a standalone app called Messenger, and it seems that even the most stubborn users have finally given in and downloaded the app. According to Facebook, Messenger has now reached over 800 million monthly active users, and in a recent blog post, the social network looked back on how far Messenger has come over the last year and where it plans to take the platform in 2016.

“2015 was a year when we made significant improvements to how we enable people to communicate,” wrote David Marcus, VP of Messaging Products, Facebook. “Among other things, we made Messenger blazing fast, we introduced video calling, the ability to customize conversations with colors, nicknames and emojis, and with Businesses on Messenger, we introduced a new way for businesses to engage their customers by providing them with a delightful, personal experience.”

Marcus also mentioned the in-app money transfer feature added to Messenger last year, which allows users to easily send money to friends or family directly through the app.

Messenger’s 2016 plans

One of Messenger’s most ambitious goals for the coming year is “the disappearance of the phone number.” More specifically, Facebook wants to make standard SMS messaging a thing of the past.

“Think about it: SMS and texting came to the fore in the time of flip phones,” Marcus said. “Now, many of us can do so much more on our phones; we went from just making phone calls and sending basic text-only messages to having computers in our pockets. And just like the flip phone is disappearing, old communication styles are disappearing too.”

Marcus pointed out that Messenger no longer requires users to have a Facebook account, and the service can be used across multiple devices, allowing users to “pick up where you left off whether you’re on a desktop computer, a tablet, or your phone.”

Other plans for Messenger include expanding the app to include more ways for users to interact through the app, including enabling business to “build the right experience in conversations.”

Essentially, Messenger seems to be following Facebook’s philosophy of ensuring users never have to leave their platform.

Image courtesy of Facebook Inc