Snapchat’s Messaging And Calling Features Now Available On Web

The messaging and video chat capabilities of Snapchat are now available outside of its smartphone app. Snapchat is now allowing some of these capabilities to be accessed on other platforms after keeping to a mobile-only format for years. A new browser-based version of the service called Snapchat for Web will soon be unveiled by the company.

Prior to being made available to other users, the new online app will only be available to Snapchat+ subscribers. Although the company plans to add support for its augmented reality lenses and the ability to send photo and video Snaps “soon,” it will initially only allow messaging and video chatting. Some of Snap’s well-known privacy features have also been added to the web version.

These functions include a privacy screen that appears as soon as the user moves away from the window, as well as screenshot detection. Snap has previously experimented with browser- or desktop-based functionalities. Previously, the company enabled select Stories postings to be seen in web browsers and used its Snap Camera app to bring AR effects to desktop computers. However, this is the first time their message system has adopted a web format.

Snapchat users are spending more time on video calls, and the app’s video calling function has witnessed constant growth. This prompted the company to make the platform accessible in a web format. In a way, the company is likewise attempting to imitate Discord’s format with Snapchat for web.  A spokesman said the company might someday add more capabilities of the smartphone app to the web version of the service if there’s enough demand.