Snapchat acquires BitStrips for $100M. But does it make sense?

Snapchat acquires BitStrips for $100M. But does it make sense?

Snapchat spent about 100 million US dollars to acquire popular personalized avatar maker BitStrips specialized in making stickers called "Bitmoji". After the acquisition, Snapchat came out with a product update launching "Chat 2.0" that includes the ability to send over two hundred stickers to friends.

Apparently, Snapchat could let users make and send stickers the way BitStrips operated. While the company have refused to admit to the deal or further revelations, the motive is now clear. The question is now about what SnapChat will do with BitStrips avatars and comics etc. Snapchat however could extend Bitmoji making it exclusive to their platform. Instead, it might make sense to keep them but with an option to import avatar stickers into Snapchat.

Alternatively, it could implement Snapchat into the BitStrips and Bitmoji experience, making it easy to share comics you create to Snapchat. There's no Bitmoji integration in Snapchat stickers just yet, but it might be on its way. Snapchat lets you both browse through stickers, and instantly show you ones related to words you've typed in the text compose window.

While WhatsApp focuses on simplicity, Facebook Messenger is more into commerce. Snapchat could dominate the market on rich media chat with the help of stickers made from digital versions of your face. Snapchat CEO said in a statement about a massive set of new features being launched. It lets private conversations morph between mediums depending on what users want to show or tell, and whether they can speak up or must stay silent. Snap code is basically upgrading everything and explaining it all with a special Discover channel video you can watch by scanning a QR Snap code.

Snapchat Stories now auto-advance, so when you get to the end of watching a friend's Story or swipe left, the next Story in your list starts playing for easy lean-back watching that should boost view counts and encourage posting.Over 200 Stickers are now available in private chat.

Video Notes in Chat let you record and send a quick 10-second max thumbnail-sized GIF-like loop so you can react with your face, and they play audio too. Audio Notes work similarly, allowing you to send short voice snippets when you're moving and can't type, or have something to say. Video and Audio Calls can now be initiated even if the recipient isn't already chatting with you, turning Snapchat into more of a phone. A new Privacy Center site clarifies that Snapchat only temporarily saves snaps submitted to Live stories and deletes everything else, though nothing about privacy is changing.

These updates roll out to all iOS and Android users. Snapchat explained that when they first launched chat their goal was to emulate the best parts of face-to-face conversation. Now they're actually delivering on their goals to be the second most vibrant method to interact than just talk-in person.

Overall, it all does make sense indicating that Snapchat are all set to compete for a share of their success in the market with all their new additions which would all make it nothing but more addictive than ever. It is going to make it hard for competitors to offer any more advancement in pulling people away from snapchat.