Photo-sharing application Instagram looks set to add a chat feature before the end of the year.
Instead of just being able to comment on pictures, the new private messaging feature will allow Instagram's 200 million users to talk among themselves, according to a "well-placed source" at Instagram.
The update will also include a group share feature similar to that seen on send and delete photo app, Snapchat, the same source confirmed, adding that it will likely be integrated into an update of the app before the start of 2014.
The move has been described as the Facebook-owned company's bid to challenge Snapchat, which Facebook recently attempted to buy for $3 billion.
According to GigaOm's, Om Malik, in order for apps to be successful today, they need a communication layer. "Comments and lightweight signals such as Facebook's likes are part of that layer. And so is messaging," he says.
There are already a number of third-party messenger apps for iOS and Android that allow for the sending of private messages between Instagram users.
Instame and InstaTalks make it possible to send messages to others in the user's vicinity, as well as to the people they follow on the platform. Similarly, when using InstaDM, users can send direct messages to any Instagram user of their choosing, including celebrities.
The news comes just a week after Instagram launched a Windows Phone version of the app. Instagram for Windows received a frosty reception from users, who dubbed the app a "half-baked" effort. Instagram has defended the app, saying the team had to leave a few features out of the first release because it wanted to take the app to market as quickly as possible.
Share