The acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook for $19 billion brought on quite a ruckus inside the tech industry. Now that the deal has long gone thru – once you have approval from the European Commission and the FTC – all people is expecting the changes that Facebook would possibly make to the WhatsApp provider.
While privateness touchy users can whatsapp dahabi be worried approximately any potential modifications, it’s far inevitable that Facebook can have some plans in thoughts to generate revenue from the purchase. Although the corporation announced that VoIP functions might release in the 2d region of 2014, it neglected the cut-off date. Even although Apple and Google have beaten it to the punch with VoIP, there may be no doubt that WhatsApp will nevertheless release VoIP calling someday within the destiny.
As of now, messages at the WhatsApp platform are restricted to registered users simplest. Once VoIP calling is introduced, the enterprise may additionally offer bundles of messages or minutes to enable conversations with non-WhatsApp customers as nicely. With tens of millions of customers sending billions of messages, any such circulate would bolster marketplace percentage and consolidate WhatsApp’s position because the maximum famous messaging app throughout multiple markets.
Although WhatsApp has always maintained that it will remain a communication platform and now not a content material distribution one, Facebook may also intend to combine payments within the service. Competitors like Kakao Talk and WeChat generate sales with the aid of selling stickers and other micro-transaction payment fashions. Facebook may additionally quickly provide this selection for WhatsApp users as nicely.
Beyond such conventional commercial enterprise fashions, Facebook can also have plans to put WhatsApp as an MVNO. What could that entail? WhatsApp has already experimented with this opportunity in Germany with the aid of partnering with E-Plus, a cell operator. E-Plus and WhatsApp have launched a prepaid Sim card with WhatsApp branding which includes unlimited messages through the provider. Users do now not need to pay for WhatsApp information usage and might send messages even if they have no calling credit score left. In return, E-Plus could gain by means of attracting customers from rival vendors.
Even even though margins are razor skinny for MVNOs, WhatsApp can leverage such partnerships to join up new customers and develop quicker than the opposition. This will be specially beneficial for Facebook in markets wherein it has visible slow boom which include in Germany or among more youthful and more privacy conscious clients. At least for now, WhatsApp users appear to agree with the service a long way greater than they do Facebook. If it makes the proper movements, WhatsApp ought to become a first rate strategic acquisition for Facebook.