WhatsApp wants firms to be able to chat with clients using the app
It has started a pilot programme that will feature a green badge next to a business contact, indicating that the firm is verified by WhatsApp
Facebook is gearing up to make money from WhatsApp, the messaging service used by more than 1-billion people every day, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. WhatsApp is testing features that would allow businesses to chat with their clients on the app, according to the report. It has started a pilot programme that would feature a green badge next to a business contact, indicating that the business was verified by the messaging service, the WSJ reported. "We do intend on charging businesses in the future," chief operating officer Matt Idema told the Journal in an interview. Started in 2009, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for an eye-popping $22bn in 2014. While WhatsApp had little revenue at the time of the deal, the purchase price was slightly more than the market value of Sony. Facebook has not focused on WhatsApp so far. The social network had started showing adverts inside its Messenger app in July to further monetise the chat service. Idema declined to describe the pai...
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