Tumblr Rolls Out Instant Messaging Feature

Tumblr last week launched instant messaging feature to a limited number of users. The company said in a blog post that the service will launch for everybody “after a few weeks”.

The users who can see a little smiley balloon icon, will be able to send a message to anyone. The recipient will automatically get the messaging feature, along with the message.

“You’ll receive the messaging feature when a friend who has it already messages you, passing it along. Everyone will receive messaging in a few weeks”, the online post explains.

Also, private and group blogs cannot use messaging for the time being and messages cannot be anonymous. Once a user gets this feature, the post explains that they will notice that Tumblr’s Fan Mail has “changed a bit”. Although it will not affect users’ older Fan messages, outgoing items will have to be shifted over to the Messaging platform in the future, Techcrunch explained.

Launched on November 11, users sent over 9 million messages in the first two days, Fast Company reported.

Founder David Karp isn’t particularly surprised by the numbers. "This has by far and away been the most requested feature," he said on stage at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival.