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Tech Report: Facebook Launches New Mobile Messenger

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Social networking site Facebook has launched a messenger application for iPhone and Android smartphones to help users stay in touch.

Facebook Messenger is trying to compete with Blackberry's messenger service.

KCBS Technology Analyst Larry Magid said through the new application you can send one of your Facebook friends, or any of your contacts, a message in a number of ways.

KCBS Technology Analyst Larry Magid:

"It can be delivered to them via Facebook as a Facebook message, it could be delivered to them as a text message and if they get a Facebook message and they have notifications turned on, it might get to them as an email," Magid said.

Magid said Facebook Messenger is a standalone application that's simpler and faster than the current Facebook app which is solely for that social network environment.

You can hear Larry Magid's Tech Report Monday through Friday at 3:50pm on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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