“Facebook for android” – integration of WhatsApp and Facebook
After one year of acquiring mobile messaging service WhatsApp, Facebook has begun testing a new feature in its ‘Facebook for Android’ app that includes the first major integration of WhatsApp by adding a “Send” button on he right hand side with the familiar Whatsapp icon as part of the status action buttons that appear when each status is updated. There are also plans for deeper integration which will have the ability to send messages between Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
Facebook had bought messaging app WhatsApp back in 20th February, 2014, in a deal worth a total of $19bn (£11.4bn) in cash and shares.
It was the social networking giant’s biggest acquisition to date. WhatsApp has more than 700 million monthly users and is popular with people looking to avoid text messaging charges. The company claims it is currently registering one million new users a day.It makes money by charging users a subscription fee of $1 per year, although it offers a free model as well. This move appears to be the first step towards connecting the two platforms in order to sustain growth and take control of the messaging market together.