Snapchat, the ephemeral photo sharing app, has added two brand new features, "Chat" and "Here," for the Apple iOS and Google's Android. It's Snapchat's most important update in its two years of existence.

Snapchat users can now chat with friends using an instant messaging (IM) interface housed inside of a Snapchat app called "Chat." Messages disappear after the chat session has been exited. Users still have the option of saving content shared in Snapchat by taking a screenshot.

The second feature called "Here" allows users to engage in a live video call when both parties in an IM session press and hold a dedicated button.

To use Chat and Here, just swipe right from the main camera screen to find a list of friends from where you can send a message or start a video call. Text is wiped as soon as you exit a chat screen, though you can tap messages to save them if you want to.

Video chats are designed to self-destruct: a pulsing blue icon tells you when a friend notices you. Then you have to press and hold the icon to provide a one-way video stream to their device. Your friend can do the same.

To Chat, swipe right on a friend's name in your Snapchat inbox to begin chatting. When you leave the chat screen, messages viewed by both you and your friend will be cleared. But you can tap or screenshot to save anything you'd like to keep.

Here lets you know when a friend is Here in your Chat so that you can give each other your full attention. And if you're both Here, simply press and hold to share live video and Chat face-to-face.

Snapchat was developed by Evan Spiegel and Robert Murphy, then Stanford University students. It allows users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients. Sent photographs and videos are known as "Snaps."