The acquisition of WhatsApp through Facebook for $19 billion caused pretty a ruckus in the tech industry. Now that the deal has long gone thru – after getting approval from the European Commission and the FTC – each person is awaiting the changes that Facebook might make to the WhatsApp provider.
While privacy sensitive users may be nervous whatsapp blaster approximately any potential modifications, it’s miles inevitable that Facebook will have some plans in thoughts to generate revenue from the acquisition. Although the employer introduced that VoIP capabilities could release in the 2d zone of 2014, it missed the cut-off date. Even though Apple and Google have overwhelmed it to the punch with VoIP, there is no question that WhatsApp will nevertheless release VoIP calling someday in the future.
As of now, messages on the WhatsApp platform are restrained to registered users best. Once VoIP calling is added, the employer may offer bundles of messages or mins to enable conversations with non-WhatsApp customers as nicely. With thousands and thousands of users sending billions of messages, one of these pass might bolster marketplace share and consolidate WhatsApp’s position because the maximum famous messaging app across more than one markets.
Although WhatsApp has usually maintained that it will remain a verbal exchange platform and not a content material distribution one, Facebook may additionally intend to combine payments in the service. Competitors like Kakao Talk and WeChat generate sales by way of promoting stickers and different micro-transaction fee fashions. Facebook may additionally quickly offer this selection for WhatsApp customers as well.
Beyond such conventional business models, Facebook might also have plans to place WhatsApp as an MVNO. What would that entail? WhatsApp has already experimented with this alternative in Germany through partnering with E-Plus, a mobile operator. E-Plus and WhatsApp have released a prepaid Sim card with WhatsApp branding which includes limitless messages via the provider. Users do not should pay for WhatsApp facts usage and might ship messages even though they haven’t any calling credit left. In go back, E-Plus could benefit by attracting users from rival vendors.
Even although margins are razor thin for MVNOs, WhatsApp can leverage such partnerships to sign up new users and grow faster than the opposition. This may be particularly useful for Facebook in markets wherein it has visible gradual boom inclusive of in Germany or among younger and extra privateness conscious purchasers. At least for now, WhatsApp users appear to believe the provider a ways more than they do Facebook. If it makes the right moves, WhatsApp could come to be a amazing strategic acquisition for Facebook.