Snapchat users could be getting a whole new way of communicating, if the app adds new features like audio and video calling. Developers looking into Snapchat's internal code have spotted the capability to make audio and video calls, add new stickers and more additional features.

Snapchat already offers a chat feature, but according to developers it could soon offer audio and video calling right through the mobile app, Tech Crunch reports.

Avoiding 10 Seconds of Fame

Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and Chinese app WeChat are more traditional chat apps that allow full-featured conversations, picture and file sharing, web cam chats and more. Snapchat is a quick message and photo-sharing service with limited capabilities. If Snapchat adds audio and video calling, it would be much more competitive with these other chat services.

Snapchat's CEO Evan Spiegel said he admires WeChat and the way it makes money with digital content, games and commerce. Snapchat has backing from the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba, so it makes sense that the service starts emulating Asian messaging apps like WeChat.

Snapchat tried selling special "selfie" lenses that helped add special animations and designs to the user's picture, but the service was shutdown earlier this month. Now, Snapchat will search for other ways to make money and stickers could be one of several ways.

You Chat V? I ChatV2

Audio and video calling would allow users to start an audio or video call by just pressing a button in the app. The recipient would then get an alert to accept the call or ignore it. The interface found in leaked screenshots is called "ChatV2."

While users are chatting, they will have indicators on their screen that show when their recipient is talking, listening or watching.

Even though the new features are found in Snapchat's internal codes, it does not mean the public will be guaranteed to see them. Snapchat could be testing out the features and seeing if they want to include them in future versions of the app.

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