Facebook Inc’s Instagram is working on building a new standalone shopping app, from which users can browse through goods and buy them directly.
It was not clear when the app would be launched, the report said.
Instagram believes it is well positioned to make a major expansion into e-commerce, the report said, citing sources.
Essentially, IG Shopping – or whatever it may end up being called – would allow users to browse collections of goods from people and merchants they follow and make purchases from directly within the application.
Further, the release of a shopping application from Instagram comes as Facebook plots a bigger push into e-commerce, and it makes sense to use Instagram as a vehicle for that push.
Instagram has been testing the waters with in-app purchasing for several months now, but this is the first we’ve heard about the company launching a standalone application dedicated to shopping.
Given Instagram’s ties to Facebook, users will undoubtedly be wary about handing over their payment details.
Additionally, the success of Instagram spinning off in-app features into standalone applications remains to be seen as the company has been quiet regarding IGTV adoption.
