Facebook Messenger app has surpassed the 1 billion download mark via Google Play store. Google apps are the only other apps to surpass this mark, TechCrunch reported.

In April 2014, when Facbook Messenger was launched as a separate app, Facebook had faced criticisms from users as the app had to be installed separately if users wanted to use the messenger app using smartphones. Now with over a billion downloads, Facebook's strategy to make a standalone messaging app has paid off.

Currently there are over 600 million users of the Facebook Messenger app, according to Geeky Gadgets.

Messenger has been downloaded over 1 billion times on Android devices, David Marcus, vice president of messaging products at Facebook said on Tuesday. 

Other apps which have crossed the 1 billion download mark are Facebook, Whatsapp (which is also owned by Facebook) and Google apps such as Gmail, YouTube, Search, and Maps.

In the last six months, Messenger has got a revamped location sharing system, added free VOIP video calling, launched a stand-alone messaging website, opened a third-party app platform, announced customer support chat with businesses and has began allowing friend-to-friend payments. With these new and revamped tools, Messanger wants to play a vital role in how we communicate.

Just last week, Messenger was updated with an enhanced location sharing system, said phoneArena. This has been done to lay the groundwork for a slew of new GPS-enabled features. Facebook has also revamped how Messenger handles map.

Messenger is well ahead of other chat apps, as it does not need to bombard users with ads to generate revenue; it can just get the revenue by connecting people to Facebook. 

Messenger is the only app to have a Google rating of 3.9 out of 4, which is mostly likely due to the fact that many users weren't happy when they had to install it as a separate app as users were fine with using the Facebook app to communicating with friends.