Microsoft has pushed out a major update to the Facebook app on its Windows Phone platform with support for video uploads, new languages, Facebook Messenger and more.
Microsoft, the biggest software company, rolled out an updated Facebook app for its Windows Phone users, adding a host of new features that were limited to its beta version. The new app features an overhauled design for a better user experience, support for more languages, Messenger integration and direct video uploads from the device.
The fresh design for Facebook on Windows Phone platform enables improved app performance. The Facebook app's change-log on the Windows Phone app store shows direct integration of Messenger to support messaging from within the main app. Users can also upload videos to Facebook directly from their Windows Phone devices, a feature that was limited to the beta version of the app .
Users of Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft's latest mobile computing OS, will get extra tidbits. "[D]evices with Windows Phone 8.1, it will now connect directly with the People Hub. In Windows Phone 8.1, Facebook contacts, events, and photo albums are now powered by the Facebook for Windows Phone app," Microsoft explained in an official blog post, Monday.
Microsoft has constantly been testing out new features for Facebook on Windows Phone. It started its Facebook beta program in April last year to boost the app's performance before releasing new features to its main app. The latest update is the fourth since April 2013. Facebook's beta app is open to users if they wish to help Microsoft test latest features for the mobile app on its platform.
While Facebook develops its own app for Android and iOS platforms, less dominant mobile OS like Windows Phone and BlackBerry develop their own apps. But the world's largest social networking giant hasn't left out Windows Phone users completely as it released its Messenger app for Windows Phone earlier this year.
In December last year, Microsoft released one of its major updates to its Facebook app on WP8 platform. The app got complete optimization for Live Tiles on Windows Phones' Start screen. The app was designed to show updates like comments on a photo right from the Facebook's primary tile, making it easier for users to stay up-to-date with what's happening without opening the app every time.
If you want to take advantage of the Messenger integration on the main Facebook app for Windows Phone devices, download the standalone Messenger app separately.
