Most of us have been using the ubiquitous messaging service WhatsApp, for more than a few years. During all this time, I don't remember paying the annual fee of $1 ever. But now the popular chat app is officially going free, no subscription fee.
The reason behind the change, according to Founder - Jan Koum, is that the annual fee might be the reason prohibiting some people from using the service, especially those without access to credit/debit cards. To become the ubiquitous messaging service, which WhatsApp is well on its way to become, it needs to be completely free just like the rest of the competition.
Moreover, as I said earlier the yearly payments weren't working that well. Most users got their service extended before the period ended. In developing markets where card payment is still in its infancy, the yearly subscription was more an obstacle given the plethora of free messaging services out there.
Coming back to the news, the yearly subscription is being done away with starting today. It will take some time to filter through versions and regions. Although if you have just paid for a renewal, there's no option for a refund as of now. Moreover, WhatsApp has cleared that ads are not coming to the platform. The company is also looking to bolster its technology to move from the consumer segment to businesses and organizations. many businesses have groups on Facebook to work internally, and this would add a secure layer for communication.
