Facebook has announced that it will be opening up Messenger as a platform, essentially allowing developers to take advantage of the app, releasing their own apps that can be used from within the Facebook Messenger app.

Facebook has announced a number of apps that will be available from the start. Here are five of those apps.

1. JibJab

JibJab is a fun little platform that allows users to create animated messages to send to their friends. Integrating the platform into Messenger will open up a whole new avenue for users to be able to send these comical messages, and should greatly boost the popularity of JibJab as a service.

If you've ever used JibJab before, you will understand the excitement about the service - I mean, come on, it's hilarious.

2. ESPN

Facebook is not just opening up Messenger as a way for developers to enhance how users interact with their friends, but it's also opening it up for companies and businesses to interact with users.

ESPN is one of the first of these media companies, offering users content and information. It seems as though it will be similar to how Snapchat has introduced the Discover feature, allowing users to willingly be advertised to with interesting and fun content. Facebook is reportedly working on more video tools for this content delivery.

3. J.J. Abrams

We're not all into sport. For those of us that are a little nerdier than that, JJ Abrams is also partnering with Facebook to offer a special effects app for users to play with. This is another example of how users will be able to send fun and interesting messages and content to their friends.

Details about the JJ Abrams app for Messenger have yet to be announced, however it's sure to be interesting once it hits the App Store.

4. Giphy for Messenger

GIFs have risen over the past few years as a favorite way to communicate, with the likes Twitter even going as far as to add support for GIFs. Giphy will essentially allow for users to be able to search out the perfect GIF to send to their friends. This is likely to expand the use of GIFs even more.

5. Zya Ditty

Zya Ditty is a very unique app for Facebook Messenger that essentially is a text-to-autotune generator. Users essentially compose a message of up to 70 characters, and then choose a background song from one of several famous tunes. Zya Ditty then stitches the message into the song.

Zya Ditty is also available as a standalone app.

Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr