Snapchat, the popular photo and messaging app, said it will launch Snapchat for the web, allowing users to message and video chat with their contacts from their computers. This comes after operating as a cellular-only service for over 10 years.
The new desktop version of Snapchat will initially only be available to users in Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Snapchat+ subscribers in the US, UK and Canada.
Snap launched Snapchat+ in June, allowing users to pay $3.99 per month for more advanced features, such as changing the style of their app icon and seeing who has viewed their content.
The web offering will be a more stripped-down version of the mobile app, focusing primarily on the messaging feature rather than the stories feature. Like the core Snap app, messages will disappear after 24 hours and any Snaps users viewing from their desktop computers will be deleted immediately after viewing.
Snap says it will eventually bring more features of the app to the desktop version, including the ability for users to enliven their video calls using lenses. Currently, people will have to access Snapchat for Web through the Chrome browser, but the company said it would soon support other browsers and release a desktop app in the future.
News continues after this ad
What you should know
Snap is scheduled to report second quarter results on Thursday after a difficult first half for the company. Snap shares plunged 43% in May, a day after the company said it would miss its guidelines, and are down more than 70% this year. Most social media companies have experienced a drop in revenue in recent times as many advertisers have cut their spending due to rising inflation around the world.
