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In its ongoing quest to spin off apps for different functions, Facebook today unveiled Groups, a new standalone app for iOS and Android that gives users access to all the groups they’re part of on Facebook from their phone.

The app collects groups in a series of bubbles, and users can tap on each one to see new updates, share a new post, and see who in the group is online at the moment. People can also create groups from within the app, and invite their friends from their mobile device.

groupsscreen2The Groups app could be a way for the company to expand the reach of its Groups feature, which can be a tough fit on Facebook’s News Feed. Depending on the frequency of updates, it’s entirely possible for users to be in a group but not realize that it has updated.

It’s the product of Facebook Creative Labs, a group within the company that’s creating new mobile apps for people who use the social network. So far, the company has yet to see a breakout success out of the group, despite launching several apps including Paper and Slingshot, Facebook’s Snapchat clone.

Thankfully, those people who don’t want to add yet another Facebook app to their phone don’t have to: it’s still possible to access Groups from the social network’s website and its other mobile apps.

Interestingly, the Groups app has launched just weeks after the company released Rooms, an app that’s also focused on facilitating discussion in small groups around a particular interest.

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