Snap is planning to let other companies build pared-down versions of their mobile apps within Snapchat, according to two people familiar with the plans, mimicking the approach of popular Chinese social app WeChat.
The change is a notable shift in strategy for Snap, which has kept its flagship app largely walled off from outside developers. While developers will only be able to offer limited, simpler versions of their apps within Snapchat, the move could eventually open up new sources of revenue for Snap, which is dependent on advertising.