Facebook addicts, take notice: today the popular social networking service released a dedicated messaging app called, what else, Facebook Messenger. The new app is the result of Facebook's purchase of messaging service Beluga earlier this year and allows users to chat with either a single person or a group. Besides the basic messaging aspect, folks using the Facebook Messenger app can also share their location or post photos in a conversation to let their chat-mates know exactly what it is they're up to. The app requires at least iOS 4.0 or Android 2.2 and can be found here on iTunes or here on the Android Market. If the app isn't showing up for you quite yet, don't fret; it just started rolling out and could take a little time to appear for you.

It seems kind of strange to see Facebook launch a dedicated messaging app since it usually just rolls new features into the regular Facebook app, but this new app looks like a good way to fire off some messages to your FB buddies without having to sift through menus and other options found in the Facebook app. Once you get the new app installed on your handset and annoy a few of your friends with knock-knock jokes, be sure to come back and let us know what you think of Facebook Messenger!

Via TechCrunch, Facebook Blog