A select number of Instagram users have received notifications prompting them to download a new ‘one tap photo messaging’ app called Bolt.
According to user reports, when tapping on the ‘Free’ button to download the app the link becomes a dead end. These notifications have since been removed, possibly indicating that Instagram accidentally leaked something they didn’t intend to.
Facebook has been known to test unreleased features inside its Android and iOS app only to officially release them later.
This is how Facebook typically introduces new features, but the company has also inadvertently leaked information before it was officially made available to the public. For example, Facebook accidentally leaked the app Slingshot on the App Store before the official launch.
If past instances are any indication, it won’t be long before we know what Bolt is, what it does, and are able to download it from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Since Instagram is owned by Facebook, and Facebook recently released their own ephemeral photo and video messaging app Slingshot, it seems a little redundant for Instagram developers to release another similar messaging app.
Although it’s possible that Bolt isn’t as similar to Slingshot as it sounds – it’s hard to pinpoint what a ‘one touch photo messaging’ app might be exactly. Considering what we know about the developers and today’s app market, what do you think Bolt will do? I’m curious to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
