Social networking giant Facebook is set to host a special event on Tuesday, Jan. 15, where the company is expected to unleash a bagful of surprises. Speculation has been rife that Facebook will take the wraps off the Facebook phone at the event, and now a new rumor has emerged and suggests that the company will also announce the Facebook Messenger app for tablets.

The report comes courtesy TechCrunch who has got hold of a screenshot of the Facebook Messenger running on the iPad. The tech site notes that users can expect all the regular messenger features that are available, plus a new option that will enable one to record voice messages.

"I'm hearing that one of the products that could be announced is Messenger for iPad. Specifically I'm hearing that Messenger for iPad, replete with all the Messenger features we've come to love like emoticons, photosharing, read receipts, location tagging, group messaging, and the new voice-recorded messaging feature, is ready for the public eye. And basically, it's what exists on the iPad but in a bigger format," noted Alexia Tsotsis of TechCrunch.

The site's source has let on that the application is ready for the Jan. 15 launch, even if the focus of the event is slated to be a mobile phone announcement.

If the new Messenger app for tablets sees the light of day, it is a matter of time before video chats, VoIP, and voice messages via messenger services take over, pushing the traditional phone usages to the backburner.

Per TechCrunch, a strong possibility exists that Facebook is rebuilding its app database to prep for the revamping of its "core product on mobile" and the social networking giant is starting with the Messenger app. Either way, the site is confident that the Messenger for iPad will launch very soon.