Chief executive officer of Meta (formerly known as Facebook), Mark Zuckerberg announced that WhatsApp is introducing free cloud-based API services to get more businesses to use the app at Conversations, the company’s first global messaging event on Thursday.
Before the major update, businesses had to use a third-party provider to build customised solutions on the WhatsApp Business Platform.
The newly launched WhatsApp Cloud API utlises Meta’s secure hosting infrastructure, thus eliminating the cost of server expenses for both solutions providers and companies that engage them.
Key Highlights
- Zuckerberg mentioned that any businesses and developers looking to build more advanced chat features such as verified accounts and custom notifications can easily do so via Meta's APIs.
- On top of that, WhatsApp is planning to offer optional paid features as part of a new premium service for users on the WhatsApp Business app, which is targeted at small businesses.
- The new premium features, which are still being developed, will include custom URL links that businesses can post on their websites and share with customers and the option to manage chats on up to 10 devices.
- Meta also stated that businesses would not be able to message people on WhatsApp unless they have requested to be contacted.
- It is reported that more than a billion users connect with a business account each week across Meta’s messaging services; WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.
- In 2014, Meta acquired WhatsApp for US$19 billion in one of the largest tech deals.
