 "Has Facebook hit bulls-eye with WhatsApp Web?")
Facebook, which announced the acquisition mobile messaging application WhatsApp nearly a year ago, has taken a giant stride today by launching WhatsApp Web, a service that wholesale ports the app—used by over 600 million users — to a desktop computer. (see: https://blog.whatsapp.com/614/WhatsApp-Web)
The move is expected to be a game changer and is set to alter desktop communications, currently dominated by email and Google’s Hangout chat service. We list out reasons why Facebook has hit a bulls-eye with this move:
More users into Whatsapp fold: The phone-based app is already seeing an exponential growth in its user base. WhatsApp Web might fire it up even more. A lot of users don’t use or restrict their WhatsApp usage due to lack of mobile data connectivity. The web-based service can address this issue.
Will significantly boost usage: With WhatsApp Web, users will not have to worry about data consumption. This will led to share jump in usage. People will now be able to send and receive tonnes of images and videos.
Set to be biggest desktop chat service: According to some estimates, WhatsApp has nearly as many active users as Gmail, Google’s email with in-built chat service that was launched almost a decade ago. By allowing access to WhatsApp through a desktop browser (only Google Chrome for now), the service might end up having more active users than Gmail.
Could become most preferred chat service: Despite cut-throat competition, Whatsapp is already the first choice among mobile messaging apps in many parts of the world—and by far in India, which accounts for over a tenth of its user base. With WhatsApp Web it can become the most-preferred chat service across platforms, more so for those who spend hours on a desktop or laptop, typically office-goers. This is because most of the active users will switch to Whatsapp Web whenever they have computer access to save on mobile data costs and for easier use.
Will complement Facebook: The service will also complement its parent company, Facebook. As of now, unlike Facebook, Whatsapp follows a ‘no-ad’ model. It is still not clear how Facebook, which paid $19 billion to acquire Whatsapp, plans to monetise the service. Today’s move could be a step in that direction. A desktop version will definitely improve the synergies between WhatsApp and Facebook. It also opens the door for limitless possibilities.