WhatsApp Launches New Android App For Small Businesses In Select Markets

WhatsApp has kicked off its new WhatsApp Business app in select markets, reported TechCrunch yesterday (19 January). The company plans to provide businesses with advanced tools to interface with customers on the platform, which is used by over a billion people globally.

Launched in such countries as the United States, United Kingdom, Indonesia and Italy, the company will soon roll out their new offering worldwide. The app, currently available only on Android, is targeted towards small businesses, who can set up their profiles on the app by providing information like business description and contact details. The app will eventually be available on other platforms as well.

Businesses will have access to smart messaging tools such as those available in today’s Facebook Messenger, allowing them to send quick and easy automated responses to customers. They will also have access to important data, such as the number of messages read, and other key statistics.

Businesses will not have to pay to communicate with customers as a “Business Account” on the Business app, and regular users will continue using the service free of charge, as they do now, as a customer.

The WhatsApp Business app will be joined by another offering – no clarity on its progress or launch date, though – by the company, in which they will target bigger businesses like e-commerce websites and airlines with enterprise tools, and for which businesses will have to make a payment to use the app.