Facebook and Instagram Messaging to merge it's chat with WhatsApp completes its first stage.

Facebook has been working on merging its services with WhatsApp and Instagram for some time – but now it looks like the first stage has been completed.

Users in the United States have reporting being notified to join the two accounts together to take advantage of additional chat features, and seeing an option on Instagram to join the two accounts together to take advantage of additional chat features.

According to the Verge, once you agree to the update the DM icon in the top right of Instagram is replaced with the Facebook Messenger logo.

It seems urrently the changes are limited, and only apply when chatting to Instagram friends and not cross platorm to message Facebook users from Instagram.

In time it is likely that the intergration of these services will force users to have the combined version.

‘The integration of WhatsApp into Facebook Messenger isn’t available yet,’ but the closer integration of the apps could mean any WhatsApp user with a Facebook account could contact friends directly without having to download the app.

This would be useful and mean less apps needed to communicate with friends.