Twitter has just released an update to its suite of iOS and Android apps that gives users more options when it comes to direct messaging.

Get the message?

Twitter announced the news in a blog post, explaining that users can now send and receive photos via direct message (DM).

The update also includes a new tab in the navigation bar that makes it easier to access DMs, while users can also now swipe back and forth between timelines.

Interestingly, the Discover tab has been removed from the front screen of the navigation bar to make way for the new Message tab.

Baby steps

While it might seem like a minor update, the move signals Twitter's interest in building up the voracity of its DM service.

Twitter currently has around 230 million monthly active users, compared to the 350 million already using direct messaging service WhatsApp.

That's a big untapped market for Twitter, something this latest update may go some way to addressing.

To find out more visit blog.twitter.com/2013.

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