Facebook is Planning to Monetize WhatsApp

Yes that is true what you see in the title! Facebook is seriously planning to monetize WhatsApp. Facebook has launched a new WhatsApp Business API, designed for businesses to connect quickly with customers via the Facebook-owned WhatsApp messaging app.

At the same time, along with the new WhatsApp Business API, Facebook display ads of businesses that link out to WhatsApp. Which will automatically open a pre-filled WhatsApp chat between the user and business.

Facebook is Making Move to Monetize WhatsApp

Businesses can respond to customers without any cost if they answer within 24 hours but Facebook will charge them for any response after 24 hours. It seems that this the another way for Facebook to cash in on its many apps.

The WhatsApp Business API will let businesses to send end-to-end encrypted messages to people who start a chat with the company via the app and to message people who have requested information.

A WhatsApp spokesperson said:

WhatsApp will charge businesses to send messages such as a boarding pass or delivery confirmation. When a customer reaches out to a business with a question such as how do they book their travel or when their order will be delivered, the business will be able to respond for free within 24 hours. If/when the customer responds, that restarts a 24-hour cycle. WhatsApp will charge for messages sent by the business outside of the 24-hour window.

Through a new suite of tools, businesses can exchange or provide information to customers. Users can also easily block any business that sends too many unsolicited messages. Last September, WhatsApp opened up its platform to business users. It has tested the new messaging tools with about 90 businesses including Uber, Wish, and Singapore Airlines.

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