Kik's iOS and Android apps got a major update Wednesday. The instant-messaging service now has a built-in browser that enables users to search the web from within its app.
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On the surface, the update may seem minor — users now have a navigation bar at the top of the app — but for Kik, it's significant. It marks the company's latest and biggest effort to turn its app into a full-fledged platform.
"This release is not really about users," Kik CEO Ted Livingston told Mashable. "This release is about developers. We've built a bunch of tools and APIs that developers can use to make their website a lot better when it's running inside Kik."

An Update to Kik's messaging apps adds a built-in browser.
Developers can now create web apps specifically optimized for Kik, so users can perform actions like play games without having to leave the app. Livingston said opening up Kik's platform will ultimately benefit users, and also help the company continue to grow.
The app, which hit 100 million users in December and more than tripled its user base in 2013, is trying to stand out from other messaging services such as WhatsApp.
Livingston said Kik's success is due to its ability to offer mobile messaging without requiring a phone number.
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