Facebook Messenger Brings SMS-Killing ‘Contact Via Phone Number’ To iOS And All Android Users

Facebook is continuing its assault on SMS and quest to become the only messaging app you use today by expanding its “contact via phone number” feature to Messenger for iOS. The option launched on Android to a select set of testers at the end of October, and is being rolled out to more droiders as well as iOS. The update is rolling out now and also brings a cleaner layout, and faster start-up and navigation.

The intent is clear. As I detailed last month, Facebook doesn’t want you to have to switch to SMS to contact someone who you have the phone number of but aren’t friends with. It’s watched as startup messaging apps like WeChat and KakaoTalk that rely on phone numbers rise to huge user counts. The move could box them out, if it’s not too late.