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I wonder if Snapchat will manage to get this money back in one way or another. Instagram is a massively popular app, while Zenly - it is HN where I first heard it. Also, 2 million downloads mainly from teens seem to be not so massive. There are bigger and more unique apps.

I wonder how often deals like that comes from pressure from VC's rather than actual strategy.

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They're probably going to integrate elements from Zenly into the main Snapchat app is my guess.

They already did, Snap Maps launched today.

Yeah, but what I don't get about this, is that building that tech (if it's just a map and pin tracking your friends) is not hard. And certainly wouldn't be hard for Snap.

I can't see how 2 million users are worth it either. It really isn't even that many anyways because I'm sure many were already snap users)

Unless it's because they really wanted to do Snap map and are basically paying to have a fast implementation and have that many people with it enabled from day one. This way when Instagram copies them it will take a few months.

I don't think they will directly monetize the map. They'd integrate it with the product to increase engagement.

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