Facebook announced the launch of Messenger Platform v1.2, containing several new features, the most prominent of which is the ability for brands to accept payments directly via the application.
The other major feature launch is the ability for brands to use News Feed ads on Facebook to drive users to Messenger via calls to action such as ?send message,? ?shop now? or ?learn more.?
Other new features in Messenger Platform v1.2 include:

The addition of more user interface elements to Messenger threads between brands and users.
Users can now share individual messages from bots or links to the actual bots themselves via Messenger.
The new welcome screen for pages and bots on Messenger provides more context for users.
Quick replies were updated to include elements such as location sharing and icons. App-level analytics, including error and block rates, can now be downloaded in .CSV form via in-app settings.
The same attachment can be reused on subsequent media sends, enabling brands to broadcast and slashing the send times for multimedia.

Facebook introduced Messenger Platform v1.2 in a Newsroom post Monday:
Since we launched Messenger Platform less than six months ago, millions of people in more than 200 countries have been engaging with businesses on Messenger each day in new and exciting ways?from better customer service, to more sophisticated brand and commerce experiences and receiving news from trusted sources.
Developers and businesses have built more than 30,000...