Instance creator develops unofficial Snapchat client, dubbed ChatSnap, for Windows Phone, now in beta

We told you on Friday about Swapchat, the new unofficial Snapchat that is due within the next week or so for Windows Phone 7.x and 8. That app currently allows photos (but not yet videos) to be posted directly to Snapchat and you can even screenshot at will.

We also told you about another developer who was working on an unofficial app for the popular message-expiring service. That developer is none other than Daniel Gary, the man behind Instance (formerly, Itsdagram), the first fully featured Instagram client for Windows Phone.

ChatSnap has now entered private beta (so please don't ask for a Store link) and it too is expected in the near future to the Windows Phone Store. Currently, it only supports photo uploads but video clips we are told are on the way, in addition to a “Find friends” feature.

Right now on first beta, the app is a bit sparse, but it’s also very “Modern UI” with the familiar Inbox – Sent – Friends layout, quick access to the camera (front and rear) and Settings.

We’ll keep you posted about the status of both Swapchat and now ChatSnap as they become available. Of course an official Snapchat app is also expected to launch in the near future as well, but we have a feeling these unofficial ones will be quite compelling on their own.

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Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and wearable tech. He has reviewed laptops for over 10 years and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, Arm64 processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, performed polysomnographs in NYC, and was a motion-picture operator for 17 years.