WhatsApp unveils Snapchat-like Status

Add one more app to the list of Facebook properties borrowing from messaging app Snapchat.

WhatsApp revealed an upgraded version of its Status feature, which would allow users to share their status to friends through a series of photos and videos. Just like messages, Status updates will remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and receiver can view someone's Status.

"Even after we added messaging in the summer of 2009, we kept the basic 'text only' status functionality in WhatsApp," says co-founder Jan Koum in a blog post. "Every year, when Brian (Acton) and I would plan projects to work on, we always talked about improving and evolving this original 'text only' status feature."

The roll out of Status started Monday, and coincides with WhatsApp's 8th birthday on Friday, says Koum.

Not surprising, Status looks similar to Snapchat's Stories, a similar feature where users upload photo and video updates shared with friends or followers. Facebook, owner of WhatsApp, adopted a similar Stories feature for photo app Instagram.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.