Rumours of Instragram messaging service follow discovery of @instagram.com addresses

2 Dec 2013

Instagram’s 150m monthly active users could be introduced to a new messaging service before the year is out. Following a recent discovery, it’s now thought that this service will make use @instagram.com email addresses.

Rumours of an Instagram messaging feature began last month following a report on GigaOm in which “well-placed sources” indicated that a private messaging feature would launch before year-end.

The rumour has been given a new lease of life following a report on TechCrunch on Friday revealing the discovery of @instagram.com email addresses linked to Twitter accounts.

A source working in marketing at an e-commerce company reportedly stumbled upon the list of email addresses when requesting verified email addresses for the followers of a certain fan club on Twitter from an unnamed data provider. Some results contained Twitter handles and Facebook email addresses, while others came with Instagram email addresses.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, offers all users an @facebook.com email address synced to their account. Emails to these addresses are received through Facebook’s Messenger platform.

Facebook is currently testing a new version of its Messenger app that will reportedly broaden its appeal across devices and provide even further competition for SMS. It could be that Facebook is now leveraging its US$1bn acquisition in its fight to become the chief mobile messaging platform.

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.

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