Snapchat features like snapping, chatting, and video calling are coming to the desktop via a new web app. Thus, Snapchat introduces its service beyond smartphones to users for the first time.
With Snapchat for Web, you can sign in with your Snapchat account, send private messages from the desktop, or call your friends. This web platform will initially only be available to Snapchat Plus subscribers. Subscribers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will get access first. Snapchat is not compatible with Apple’s Safari, it will only be compatible with Google’s Chrome browser.
While Snapchat may have emerged as a visual-first messaging app, the head of messaging Nathan Boyd says a web option makes sense as its users use desktop computers more often. Boyd also revealed that he wants to bring more of Snapchat’s features to the web over time.
Snapchat’s offering of web access support to its subscribers signals that the company is taking paid subscriptions seriously as an additional way of making money. With revenues dwindling, the management team is pressing for ways to make more money from Snapchat’s 332 million daily active users. While there will be no ads initially on the desktop version, it is believed to keep loyal users coming back.
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