Rumor: Instagram is working on a separate app for online shopping

According to new rumors, Facebook subsidiary Instagram is working on a separate app for online shopping. In it, users would be able to purchase products from manufacturers that they track on the platform.

The Verge spoke to two people who say they have knowledge of Instagram’s plans. They say the app may be called IG Shopping and Instagram believes it is in a good position to expand into e-commerce. The sources could not provide details on an expected release and said development of the app may be halted at that time.

It would not be the first time that Instagram has made a function independent in the form of an app. For example, The Verge notes that the company has been testing a separate Direct app since the end of last year that serves as a chat app. In addition, the company recently released IGTV, an app that allows users to watch videos of up to an hour in length. There is currently also a test with a shopping function in the Instagram app itself.

Facebook said in its last quarterly earnings presentation that about 25 million businesses have an account on Instagram.