Instagram launches Bolt to take on Snapchat in the self-destructing messaging wars - but has banned US users from downloading the app

• The app is only available in New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa
• Comes as Facebook launches Slingshot and Apple reveals plans for self destructing messages in its next iPhone and iPad software
  

By Taylor Lorenz

Published: 18:14 EST, 29 July 2014 | Updated: 07:22 EST, 30 July 2014

Instagram has launched a new ephemeral messaging app called Bolt.

The app, which functions in a similar way to Snapchat, allows users to quickly share self destructing photos or videos with a friend.

Like Snapchat, the user can tap on a friend's face to instantly send a photo, or hold their finger down to send a video.

User's can tap on a friend's face to instantly send a photo, or hold their finger down to send a video

However, Bolt only allows you to send messages to one person at a time, which makes it frustrating if you’re looking to distribute photos or videos to a group of friends.

The favorites bar at the bottom of the app also only contains four friends, though you can apparently add up to 20 contacts in total.

Bolt is currently only available in New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa. ‘We're going to other regions soon, but are starting with handful of countries to make sure we can scale the experience,’ an Instagram spokesman told The Verge.

‘Instagram has 65 percent of its users overseas, so an international launch, while different, is actually not all that out of order with what we do.’

The Instagram representative elaborated that the three countries were selected not only because of their geographical diversity, but also for their tight-knit communities. 

The app’s launch follows Facebook’s recent foray into ephemeral messaging with Slingshot. Slingshot performs many of the same functions as Bolt (and even includes an identical text editor), however it encourages the user to share photos and videos with many people, not just a single contact.

Slingshot also forces you to send a photo before you can before you can view the one you’ve just received.

Instagram’s current private sharing mechanism, Instagram Direct, allows for the permanent exchange of photos with up to 15 people at a time.

Bolt only allows you to send messages to one person at a time, which makes it frustrating if you’re looking to distribute photos or videos to a group of friends.

The features is regularly used by around 45 million users, however it has failed to catch on the way more standalone messaging apps have.

Some experts say that Bolt is actually an attempt to mirror Taptalk, yet another ephemeral messaging service.

The Berlin-based company provides a Snapchat-like interface but without the signature countdown clock, user profiles or navigation buttons.

In May, Snapchat unveiled its own in-app instant messaging and video chat service.

Both Apple and Facebook have released similar ephemeral messaging services in attempt to capitalize on Snapchat's runaway success.

Apple also added the ability to send self-destructing audio and video messages via iMessage.

Some say Bolt’s functionality is also similar to Mirage, a one tap messaging app by the makers of Yo.

Facebook and Instagram both hope that Bolt will become more successful than Facebook’s previous ill-fated Snapchat clone, Poke.

Instagram plans to promote Bolt at the top of every user's Instagram feed.

Instagram is already facing problems with its Bolt app with some users accusing the firm of stealing the logo from a San Francisco-based charity called Causes.

The app is already facing some problems, however. Andrew Benton, CEO of a free calling app named Bolt has already written a blog post asking Instagram to please consider another name for its app.

‘There is already confusion in the market… Our users have reached out to us, wondering whether we've been acquired or are possibly providing the underlying technology behind your Bolt app. People are searching for Bolt in the Play Store and downloading our app thinking it’s yours,’ he wrote.

Facebook and Instagram have also been accused of ripping off the logo for Causes, a charity organization.

Regardless, users in the US are already clamoring to get their hands on the service. ‘ugh i want to try bolt but it’s not available in the US,’ Twitter user @samsheffer posted, ‘now i know how it feels’.