WhatsApp, the popular mobile messaging service owned by privacy monetizer Facebook, will be opening its platform up to businesses, allowing them to communicate with their customers. While its a way to monetize the service it will also leave users vulnerable to spam.
The reports come directly from Facebook chief financial officer David Wehner, who spoke about the plans at a tech conference in Boston.
“We think that enabling that B2C [business-to-consumer] messaging has good business potential for us. As we learn those things, I think there’s going to be opportunities to bring some of those things to WhatsApp, but that’s more longer term.”
Facebook already opened its Messenger service up to developers, allowing them to create apps and allowing shoppers to communicate directly with retailers.
WhatsApp, an arm of Facebook, will likely use some functions that are being tested with Facebook Messenger.
The popular messaging service, acquired by Facebook for $22 billion, has a user base of 800 million.
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