New York, Feb 5 (IANS): Micro blogging site Twitter is apparently testing a new button on its mobile app for posting GIFs -- a bitmap image format that is widely used on the internet due to its wide support and portability, a media report said.

A quick search for "GIF button" on Twitter shows that many users have been given access to the experimental feature, TechCrunch reported.

Twitter user Phil Pearlman told the technology media company that when he clicked the button, he was shown a selection of ready-made GIFs, including some categorised by mood and others that were trending.

The reaction to the experiment has been pretty positive, according to TechCrunch.

In the past, Facebook and Yahoo have partnered with third-parties like Giphy and Tumblr to integrate catalogues of GIFs on their messaging apps.

Although Twitter has not issued any official statement on the experimental feature, allowing sponsored GIFs on the micro blogging site could offer new branding opportunities for the company.