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Snapchat Is Now Available For Everyone Via Web Browser
As well as making it easier to access the service on any platform, the company also launched a set of new iOS 16 lock screen widgets to make accessing chats faster.
Snapchat launched a browser version of their service back in July, featuring messaging and video chat functionality — but only in select regions and for subscribers to Snapchat+. The popular messaging app will now be available in a browser-based format for all users globally.
The interface isn’t exactly cutting edge in terms of design or features. However, it still looks like a useful option for people who like to type long messages, or those looking for a more efficient way to upload content using a desktop or laptop.
The web-based version of Snapchat will also allow users to make longer-length audio and video calls after the company revealed that this had been a popular feature of late. As demand for the browser version of the app grows, Snapchat engineers will add more core features to the desktop app, bringing most of the functionality that users already enjoy on Android and iOS.
Speaking of the popular Apple operating system, Snapchat has also announced a set of new lock screen widgets for its service now that iOS 16 has arrived on the scene. The widgets allow iPhone fans to create shortcuts to conversions, helping users quickly jump back into frequent chats in a single tap.
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The Snapchat app itself will also feature new shortcuts at the top of its chat page. The new additions will make it easy for people to jump to their unread Snaps, frequent chats, and replies to stories. The shortcuts will also show reminders for friends’ birthdays and conversations that users haven’t replied to yet. Last, but not least, Snapchat has also added Question Stickers that can be posted to stories and Snaps. There’s no definite release date on any features yet, but some users have already started to benefit from a gradual roll-out of the upgrades.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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