(Pocket-lint) - Facebook has officially announced that its new native desktop Messenger app for Mac and Windows is available globally, and anyone can now download and install it. At Facebook’s 2019 F8 developer conference, the company announced plans to introduce desktop apps for its popular communications app Messenger. Now, less than a year later, the Messenger Mac App.

You would no longer have to open Facebook in your desktop to chat with your friends as Facebook has now launched a desktop version of Messenger for Windows and Mac users. The app will be available for download in the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store. Earlier, Messenger was a mobile-only application.

'Now more than ever, people are using technology to stay in touch with the people they care about, even when physically apart. Over the past month, we saw more than a 100% increase in people using their desktop browser for audio and video calling on Messenger. Now with apps for macOS and Windows, the best of Messenger is coming to desktop, including unlimited and free group video calls,' Stan Chudnovsky, VP of Messenger at Facebook said in a blog.

Now that Facebook has launched the desktop version of Messenger, popular video-conferencing app Zoom has a new competitor to deal with. With half the world under lockdown, people are relying more and more on technology for entertainment and to meet their professional commitments. For instance, Zoom became an overnight success with over 200 million active users in just a matter of a few weeks. Facebook has also made an effort to cash into the opportunity and there couldn't have been a better time to make the Messenger app available for desktop users than this.

Here are some of the features of Messenger desktop app that you should know of

--Just like Zoom, you can conduct group video calls on your desktop and use the feature to stay in touch with your family and can even host official meetings on the app

--You don't have to log in to Facebook every time you want to chat with your friends, you simply have to open the messenger app and your job will be done. Also, you don't need your Facebook friend's email id or contact details to start a conversation. All Facebook users have Messenger.

--You can receive notifications for new messages, so you can quickly find the chat you're looking for. But you're in control you can choose to mute and snooze notifications.

Messenger Desktop App Mac Mini

Messenger Desktop App Mac Pro

-- You can sync chats across mobile and desktop and this way you will never miss a call or message no matter irrespective of the device you are using.

Messenger Desktop App Mac Ios

--You can also use the Messenger desktop app in dark mode