Facebook creates experimental messaging app only for Apple Watch

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kip
Kit's interface is very simple.
Photo: Facebook

Facebook launched an experimental new app today that aims to make it easier to message friends and family from your wrist while stuck inside during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new app, called Kit, short for “Keep in touch”, only works on Apple Watch. Kit can be used to send voice messages, your location, emoji and more all with just a few quick taps.

The new Apple Watch messaging app was created by Facebook’s NPE team. It’s the same division that earlier this month churned out the mushy chat app for couples called Tuned. The group throws around a bunch of ideas and quickly iterates on product ideas, however, the company rarely talks about the apps publicly.

Kit is available to download today on the iOS App Store. To log in, users scan a QR code on their watch. From there you’re presented with contact suggestions based on who you recently contacted via Messenger. To message some you just tap the person which triggers the audio recording option. Emoji, scribbles, dictation input and location sharing are also available as messaging options.

To see what your contact sent you, just swipe to the right. If you don’t like Facebook’s suggested contacts, you can tap on Change Contact in the settings page.

Facebook already has a Messenger app that works on Apple Watch but it’s a bit more complex than the new app. Kit is the first Apple Watch-only app created by the social networking giant. The company hasn’t said if it plans to make Kit available on Android Wear devices.

 

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