Facebook announced a new “Bots for Messenger” feature for Messenger platform. (Photo : Facebook)
At its F8 developer conference on Tuesday, Facebook announced introducing chatbot support, called Botlist, to Messenger. Botlist is basically a third-party database comprising a catalog of numerous bots offered across platforms, counting the Web, Telegrams, LINE, Kik, email, mobile, SMS, apps, Slack and much more.
The "Bots for Messenger" aspect forms a part of the most recent Messenger update. Earlier, the social media platform introduced another update called "Bots and Businesses." As bots are a rage these days, Microsoft too launched bots on Skype as well as introduced tools enabling developers to create bots for cross-platforms.
With a beta version of the platform being live from Tuesday, David Marcus, Head of Messenger, said that companies can now start building chat bots for Facebook, iDigital Times reported. Currently, there are 900 million active users on Facebook and another 50 million businesses on the platform, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg claimed.
For using the new chat bots, one will require using the search bar right at the top of the Messenger app. When the user places the cursor in the search area, Facebook Messenger will automatically populate bot suggestions depending on what it believes you are looking for. In fact, the messenger bots possess the aptitude to send links, show images, as well as offer descriptions of features, services, or things.
Bots will form a part of the new Messenger platform and will be able to provide anything ranging from programmed subscription content such as updates on weather and traffic to tailored communications such as live automated messages, receipts and even shipping notifications by means of directly interacting with the users who wish to get them, the description on Facebook's newsroom stated.
The statement added, "The Messenger Send/ Receive API will support not only sending and receiving text, but also images and interactive rich bubbles containing multiple calls-to-action."
Many may wonder what led Facebook to introduce bots, instead of apps. The answer to this is simple. In fact, as far as mobile app stores are concerned, they have reached a saturated point in the developed markets, Tech Crunch reported. Findings of studies have shown that with numerous apps arriving every time, several users usually do not download any new app every month. Most of them are content with the apps like Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Maps and others that are already installed on their devices.
Moreover, compared to mobile websites, several mobile apps are relatively easier to use. Therefore, saving the apps permanent on the phone makes little sense. On the other hand, bots can reach users on their existing platforms, for instance chat apps, SMS, iMessage or apps meant for work communication like Skype and Slack.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is very passionate about bots and, hence, addressing the company's BUILD conference in March, he described bots as the "next applications."
Watch Zuckerberg announcing Facebook 'Bots for Messenger' at F8 developer conference on Tuesday below:
