Snapchat reaches 350m milestone, starts planning for wearable tech revolution

10 Sep 2013

Snapchat users are now sending 350m message a day through the picture and video-messaging app and the Los Angeles-based company is now developing an app for Samsung’s new smartwatch.

Snapchat founder and CEO Evan Spiegel announced the app’s latest milestone on Monday at the TechCrunch Disrupt event in San Francisco, California. He also revealed the company plans to monetise the app through in-app purchases.

Snapchat is also making a move to the wearable tech space through Snapchat Micro, an app developed specifically for Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch unveiled just last week. The wearable smartphone or phablet companion has a 1.4MP camera and shoots 720p video for up to 10 seconds. A perfect fit, as Snapchat’s messaging service has a 10-second video limit.

Just like the regular Snapchat app, Snapchat Micro users can select a time limit for their video or picture message and, once viewed for this length of time, it will be deleted from the receiver’s phone.

With Snapchat Micro, drawings or captions can be added to pictures taken on the Galaxy Gear via a paired Galaxy Note device.

Snapchat is growing on the back of US$60m in funding secured in June, but Spiegel ruled out the idea of a Google Glass app as he believes this product is too invasive.

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com