The world is big, so why not go around and explore it? That goes the same with Snapchat when it introduces a location service it calls 'Snap Maps'.
Following speculations from a week earlier, Snap Maps is a location-sharing and location-based content discovery feature, supposed to help users in keeping up with the events and activities that happen nearby. It allows users to easily hook with friends or people that are near, following them to where they hang out and join them in what they're up to.
But not limited to that, users can see a global map to practically browse what is currently happening, in real time.
One of the useful feature, is the ability to choose whether users want to share their locations with friends, or not. Snapchat has added a dedicated 'Ghost Mode' this purpose.
And if they opt to share their location, they will be presented to their friends on the map using their custom Actionmoji.
Snap Map is based on its Zenly acquisition. Zenly allowed users to see their friends in real-time on a map using constant GPS that runs in the background. People can message others inside the app, asking them to plan a hang out, for example.
The app was mostly used by teens that were trying to keep up with friends around town, school, concerts or other events.
Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, is having a hard time since competitors like Facebook, Instagram and other apps are copying many of its best features.
Instead of going all in to compete those foes, Snapchat took a wiser solution by expanding its social utility and helping people to meet.
The company has its own Spectacles product, and plenty of its acquisition involves strategies to ramp up its AR and filters features. Snap Map, or its acquisition on Zenly, doesn't fit into those businesses. However, what Snapchat is thinking, is helping more people to get together.
Making people to meet could let Snapchat own the path of owning people's intentions. And many of that involves things worth capturing on camera.
So imagine going out to a concert or a restaurant. Snap Map has plenty of advertising and partnership opportunities. Snap can hit users with ads as they plan to go out.