Facebook is removing the ability to send and receive messages from its primary iOS and Android app, to drive users to its separate Facebook Messenger app.

“Today we are starting to notify people that messages are moving out of the Facebook app and over to the Messenger app,” a Facebook spokesperson told us. “To continue sending messages on mobile, people will need to install the Messenger app.”

The change will roll out as an update to the app, starting in selected Europe countries immediately. Users will be notified several times before the update takes place, but there will be no chance to opt out – except for refusing future updates to the app, presumably.

The news perhaps makes more sense in the light of Facebooks $16bn acquisition of WhatsApp in February. This might represent the first step towards moving its messaging functionality into the standalone OTT app – though its worth noting that, following the acquisition, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum said the companies had struck a deal which would “allow us to continue operating independently and autonomously”.

Whether its the initial part of a more long-term plan that will further consolidate Facebooks grip on the time people spend with their smartphones, or just another Home-style experiment thats doomed to failure, remains to be seen.