Snapchat in Amazon point-and-buy tie-up

san francisco — Snapchat is teaming up with Amazon.com Inc to let users of its social-media app buy products based on what they see through their smartphone’s camera lenses.

Snapchat’s mobile app opens up to a camera, which people can use to send disappearing images and videos to their friends. Now, users will be able to point the Snapchat camera at a product they see in the real world to scan its image or barcode. If Amazon recognises the item, it will present a link to purchase it on the retail giant’s app or website, parent company Snap said Monday in a blog post.

The shopping tool, which is only available to a small set of users in the US for now, could eventually present another source of revenue for the troubled socialmedia company. The Los Angeles-based company has posted disappointing revenue growth and user additions in some recent quarters. The firm declined to comment on its financial relationship with Amazon.