Instagram Releases the Bolt App, a Snapchat Competitor

Just as we suspected, Instagram has released a new app. Bolt, as it's called, lets you take and send unedited photos and videos with just one tap. Don't have anymore use for the photos you've been sent? Swipe them away and — poof! — they disappear. You can also reply to photos with text. Sound familiar? Yup, consider it another Snapchat competitor.

The caveat is that it's not available in the US — yet. "We decided to start small with Bolt, in just a handful of countries, to make sure we can scale while maintaining a great experience," an Instagram spokesperson told Mashable in a statement. "We expect to roll it out more widely soon." So far, it's launching in New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa and is available through the Google Play store only.

Bolt leaked last Wednesday, when some Android Instagram users got confused after seeing an ad introducing the app.

If it came to the US, would you try it?