Snapchat adds IM and video chat to service

Snapchat doesn’t do away with its self-destructing messages but has updated its iOS and Android apps to do a bit more.  The app now lets you instant message your friends and have live video chats with them. You can start chatting with your friends by swiping to the right from your main screen. You’ll see the list of people available for chats. While this is much like the other messaging services out there, the text from your conversations are wiped after you close the chat screen, unless you tell the app to keep them.

For video chats, a blue icon will pop up at the bottom of the screen when your friend is chatting with you. You press and hold this open for a one-way stream. The person you’re chatting with can do the same thing as well. There are gestures you can use to switch back and forth with your front- and rear-facing cameras.