• Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Whitepapers
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
  • Newsletters
  • Whitepapers
    • Inqlogo 120x194
      Five things you should look for in choosing a Testing provider

      Choosing a Testing Partner can be complex.  So what do you look for?  This guide offers insight into the qualities you must look for in choosing a Testing provider.  Download now to learn more.

      Download
      Inqlogo 120x194
      Your questions answered: How to protect your data in the cloud

      The number of successful cyberattacks per year per company has increased by 46% over the last four years. But what really needs to be considered when exploring a solution? What questions need to be asked? Download to find out...

      Download
      Find whitepapers
      Search by title or subject area
      View all whitepapers
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • Newsletters
    • Facebook
  • Newsletter
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
The Inquirer
The Inquirer
  • Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Trending
  • General election
  • Huawei sues FCC
  • Xerox vs HP
  • Galaxy S11
  • McAfee 2020
The Inquirer
  • Phones

WhatsApp drops subscription fee and lets users talk to companies

Not an attempt to replace the annual fee with ads, says firm

  • Lee Bell
  • Lee Bell
  • @llebeel
  • 18 January 2016
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
0 Comments

Whatsapp app logoWHATSAPP IS to drop its annual subscription fee of 69p and attempt to make money instead by letting organisations talk to people in messages.

Co-founder Jan Koum explained that free is the right way to go because the current structure "really doesn't work that well", for the reason that people might miss a payment and lose access because they can't get to a credit card.

"For many years, we've asked some people to pay a fee for using WhatsApp after their first year. As we've grown, we've found that this approach hasn't worked well," said WhatsApp in a blog post.

"Many WhatsApp users don't have a debit or credit card and they worried they'd lose access to their friends and family after their first year. So over the next several weeks, we'll remove fees from the different versions of our app and WhatsApp will no longer charge you for our service."

However, allowing businesses to talk to users in messages could be more annoying than the 69p fee, depending on who has control - the user or the company.

But WhatsApp insisted that the change is about making the messaging app "more useful" and that the firm won't make up the lost subscription money through advertising. Instead, the update will let people talk to companies or organisations, which we assume will pay for the privilege.

"Naturally, people might wonder how we plan to keep WhatsApp running without subscription fees and whether today's announcement means we're introducing third-party ads. The answer is no," the company explained.

"Starting this year, we will test tools that allow you to use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses and organisations that you want to hear from."

WhatsApp said this could allow people to communicate with their bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, for example, or with an airline about a delayed flight.

"We all get these messages elsewhere today - through text messages and phone calls - so we want to test new tools to make this easier to do on WhatsApp, while still giving you an experience without third-party ads and spam," said the firm. µ

  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Phones
  • Software

INQ Latest

Google is revamping how it shares news
Google is revamping how it shares news

Hold the front page

  • Communications
  • 12 December 2019
Twitter wants to fund an open source social media standard
Twitter wants to fund an open source social media standard

Bluesky's the limit

  • Software
  • 12 December 2019
china
China's Kylin forks are about to join up for new 'domestic os'

Might need to come up with a better name though

  • Software
  • 12 December 2019
iPhone users are officially more horny than Android fans

There's an app for *that*

  • Controversy
  • 12 December 2019
Back to Top

Most read

Apple's iPhone 12 looks set to boast improved battery life
Apple's iPhone 12 looks set to boast improved battery life
Microsoft debuts its first native Office app for Windows
Microsoft debuts its first native Office app for Linux
iPhone users are officially more horny than Android fans
An ex-Apple executive claims the company spied on his phone after he left
An ex-Apple executive claims the company spied on his phone after he left
WhatsApp is giving up on some ageing phones
  • Contact
  • Marketing solutions
  • Enterprise IT Events
  • Incisive Media
  • Terms & conditions
  • Policies
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • Newsletters
  • Facebook

© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013

Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017