You can now send questionable texts in addition to your naughty photos on Snapchat. The ephemeral photo-sharing app is rolling out an update today that adds texting and video call functions, putting it in direct competition with mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp. However, in keeping with Snapchat's ethos, the text messages disappear after a certain amount of time.
Company co-founder Evan Spiegel, who rebuffed a $3 billion offer from Facebook a few months ago, told The New York Times that the "goal has always been to move beyond messaging." These functions should do just that while maintaining customer loyalty to the app.
"If I'm walking around and want to show you something, why do I have to switch apps?" he asked. "It stops the conversation and makes it a transaction, rather than free-flowing."
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Gizmodo has a full rundown of how both features work. --Jordan Valinsky