Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FreebieWHATSAPP IS SCRAPPING its annual subscription fee and will instead focus on connecting businesses with users.
When WhatsApp first launched, it was a paid app before offering the first year free and charging €1 for additional years.
Now its CEO Jan Koum told the DLD conference in Munich it will get rid of this and allow users to sign up for free. Those who paid the subscription this year will get a refund over time.
According to Re/Code, the app has ruled out the possibility of introducing third-party ads on its service. It would instead look at ways businesses can connect with individuals while avoiding spam and unwanted advertising, similar to the approach Facebook Messenger is taking.
It detailed the ways the service could be used.
That could mean communicating with your bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, 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.
When asked why they decided to scrap the fee, Koum said it was because it added barriers for some users who hadn’t access to a credit card, mainly those who live in developing countries.
Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg was famously quoted as saying products aren’t interesting until they have a billion users back in 2014 and the move suggests it’s close to this point.
Wired mentions it’s now at 990 million monthly active users and Koum was hoping to announce a billion today.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What fee? I’ve never paid and I’ve used it for a few years.
It was free for the first few years but then they added the charge for new users so anyone who got it before the fee was introduced didn’t have to pay it
Ah. Thanks for that.
Yeah they were always extending my free period. I’ve been using them for quite a few years
They would ask some people for a euro after first year but if you didn’t pay I don’t think they cut you off. People were worth more to them as an active user
With so many free messaging sites why on earth would they expect you to pay anything!
Sounds like someone’s boardroom idea just went up in smoke
Because of all the other free messaging sites on earth, the one you’re using is only any good if all or most of your contacts are also using it. Otherwise you’re on your own.
Fairly simple. Tell your friends to download it. Can’t see anyone saying no. Whats another app on your phone.
I’d say they would all be downloading another chat app fairly sharpish once the current one was going to start charging you
Like others have said above, I was originally warned that I’d be paying after the first year, but never actually got charged. But I don’t think it was ever actually about charging for the service.
What it did was it created a potential revenue stream, which customers had acknowledged, thereby proving revenue potential and increasing the value of the company in terms of price:revenue
A persistently waived fee is actually quite smart in this regard.
Nice Ronan I like it.
It woulda been a euro a year ya tight fisted get!
“will instead focus on connecting businesses with users.” sounds like intrusive advertising in my book. Looks like telegram will be taking over then.
WeChat does exactly this in China. I’ve always wondered why no one does that here. I don’t want to download apps for each and every company I might ever use, only to use 99% of them only once a year or less.
I never paid a fee either, didn’t even know it was a paid app!
How’ya lunchbox?
have your say