Instagram has finally entered instant messaging which is one of the most competitive markets currently. The popular photo sharing service has rolled out chat service that enables users to share messages, photos and videos between one and 15 people. “ There are moments in our lives that we want to share, but that will be the most relevant only to a smaller group of people – an inside joke between friends captured on the go, a special family moment or even just one more photo of your new puppy. Instagram Direct helps you share these moments”, wrote Instagram on a company blog post . Instagram Direct allows users to send messages to people who follow them and adds a stream of ‘pending’ requests from other users. The service is currently being rolled out on Android and iOS app while there is no word about when will it come to Windows Phone or the website. Instagram Direct is accessible via a new icon in the top-right hand corner of the home screen, which reveals your personal inbox with any photos and videos that have been sent to your account. When you receive a photo, you’ll see a little inbox icon on the top right corner of the app, which will send you directly to your new messages. You can chat privately one-on-one or with a group of people. It must be noted that text messages cannot be sent without a photo, but it’s possible to comment on images and re-open the conversation that way. Over time, Instagram will learn who you share with most and present them in group. With 150 million active users, Instagram has grown quickly since its launch three years ago. Instagram added video recording and a long-overdue app for Windows Phone 8 devices this year. We believe this is a great feature by Instagram and one of the main reason is that it dose not interfere with the app’s core functionality. Also, its light and simple UI makes its easy to use and does not make it too crowded with additional buttons. Finally, we like that Instagram which already is a private social network compared to others becomes more private with Instagram Direct. Yesterday we reported that Twitter added photo sharing capability to its apps via DM. With the entry of Instagram direct we can expect a stir among other popular and strong players like WhatsApp , Snapchat and BBM . Image Source | blog.instagram.com Looking For A Social Media Agency?? – Contact WATConsult – India’s Leading Social Media Agency
[via WATBlog.com – Web, Advertising and Technology Blog in India]
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