Facebook developing video-chat app to rival Snapchat: Report

Facebook Inc is developing its own video-chat app, known internally as Slingshot, after its failed attempt to acquire mobile messaging startup Snapchat.

According to a Financial Times report on Sunday, the social network has been working for several months on the planned video-chat app, which would allow users to send short video messages using a touch-screen

Citing people familiar with the plans, the report said Slingshot could be launched this month, noting that Facebook might ultimately decide not to proceed with the launch of the app.

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has been overseeing the "top-secret" project after the social network company was unable to win Snapchat's creators, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, with its $3 billion takeover offer late last year, FT said.

Snapchat, popular among teenagers, allows users to send smartphone photos that automatically disappear after a few seconds.

(Reuters)