Since acquiring WhatsApp in 2017, Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook has been looking for ways to raise revenue on the popular messaging platform. WhatsApp has announced that it will start charging businesses on its platform for sending marketing and customer service messages in a bid to generate revenue.Since acquiring WhatsApp in 2017, Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook has been looking for ways to raise revenue on the popular messaging platform with over 1.5 billion users.The instant messaging tech company in a statement on Wednesday, July 1, 2018, said messages from businesses will be charged at a fixed rate between 0.5 cents to 9 cents per message and depending on the country.The range is about N30 to N35 in local currency, although the platform is yet to determine its exact rate for other regions in local currency terms.WhatsApp says large businesses will be charged for sending non-promotional content, such as shipping confirmations, appointment reminders or event tickets.ALSO READ: WhatsApp is trying to tackle fake news by letting users identify forwarded messagesUsers can also send messages to the business to ask questions, and responding to these messages will be free, for the first 24 hours but will come at a premium thereafter, when compared to SMS rates.Why Whatsapp BusinessIn January 2018, the instant messaging tech company, Whatsapp, launched Whatsapp Business application, to help small businesses connect their customers in real time.According to the company, the purpose of the new product is to make it easier for businesses to respond to customers and create an effective online presence for small businesses across the globe.WhatsApp Business application now has over three million active users.Also from Business Insider Sub-Sahara Africa:Power tussle tears Nigeria’s ruling party apartNigerians are signing a petition against the high cost of internet subscription9mobile says its acquisition deadline has been extendedGoogle to provide free high-speed internet to millions of Nigerians from 20193D Africa’s HackForGood comes to the University of Lagos for its 2018 editionNigerian government raised tax revenue by 42%, here’s how much it generated in 6 monthsTwitter has started clamping down on fake followers, here’s what you will noticeYou will be surprised at the 19 people Nigeria’s Buhari follows on TwitterHere’s why Nigeria is not in a hurry to sign the continental free trade agreementNigeria’s online savings platform secures $1.1 million seed funding to develop its products and expand massivelyThese 6 banks invested N155.
