The new feature is now available in four countries

Jun 24, 2015 19:12 GMT  ·  By

Facebook has just announced that it has removed the account requirement for those who want to sign up for Messenger. This means that you won't need a Facebook account in order to sign up for the company's instant messenger.

But here is how it works. When you open the Messenger application, you will be met with the welcome screen. You will now see an option that says “Not on Facebook?”

Clicking that option will get you to a new window that will allow you to sign up with your name, phone number and a photo.

Obviously, those who have Facebook accounts continue to maintain the same benefits such as being able to easily message their Facebook friends and contacts, as well as access their Facebook messages and take advantage of multi-device messaging across mobile devices.

It's also worth mentioning that the new feature will be slowly rolled out globally. For the time being, Facebook confirmed that is testing the feature in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and Peru.

According to Facebook, “With this update, more people can enjoy all the features that are available on Messenger - including photos, videos, group chats, voice and video calling, stickers and more. All you need is a phone number.”