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Facebook takes steps toward monetizing WhatsApp
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WhatsApp said in a blog post published on Sept. 5 that the app would be testing new features that would make it easier for people to communicate with business they want to reach on the platform. (Shutterstock/File)
F
acebook Inc. is getting ready to make money from the popular messaging service WhatsApp, which it acquired for US$22 billion in 2014, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
Citing the Journal, Reuters reported that WhatsApp would monetize through its business feature.
WhatsApp said in a blog post published on Sept. 5 that the app would be testing new features that would make it easier for people to communicate with businesses they want to reach on the platform.
"We're building and testing new tools via a free WhatsApp Business app for small companies and an enterprise solution for bigger companies operating at a large scale with a global base of customers, like airlines, e-commerce sites and banks," according to the blog post.
The businesses would be able to use the platform to provide customers with notifications like flight times, delivery confirmations and other updates, it added.
Read also: WhatsApp registration system now available in 26 immigration offices
WhatsApp further noted that it has already started a closed pilot program that would indicate a business is verified by the messaging service by showing a green badge next to a business contact.
"We do intend on charging businesses in the future," the company's COO Matt Idema told the Journal in an interview.
Idema would not describe the paid features or say when they would make their debut, according to the report. "We don't have details of the monetization figured out," Idema told the Journal.
Established in 2009, WhatsApp has now grown to have 1 billion active daily users worldwide. Since its acquisition three years ago, Facebook has not focused on WhatsApp for revenue, other than placing ads on the social media network since July.
The messaging service also ditched its $1 annual subscription fee, which left few monetization options beyond charging business for tools, according to TechCrunch. (liz/kes)
