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As of July 2024, WhatsApp has reached a remarkable milestone, boasting 100 million users in the United States. This achievement highlights the app's growing popularity and its ability to bridge the cross-platform divide between iPhone and Android users. With more than 2 billion users worldwide across 180 countries, WhatsApp continues to be a leading messaging and calling app, owned by Meta.
The Significance of 100 Million Users in the US
The recent milestone of 100 million users in the US signifies WhatsApp's success in providing a private and secure messaging platform that caters to both iPhone and Android users. This achievement underscores the app's ability to deliver a seamless messaging experience, making it a preferred choice for many Americans. As the company stated, "No matter if you have an iPhone or Android, people want private and secure messaging that works well for everyone and that’s what we do best."
Global Reach and Features
Worldwide, WhatsApp has established itself as a dominant player in the messaging app market, with over 2 billion users in more than 180 countries. The app allows users to send and receive text messages, photos, videos, documents, location details, and voice calls, offering a comprehensive communication platform.
New Features and Offerings
WhatsApp's milestone in the US comes at a time when both WhatsApp and its parent company Meta are rolling out new features and offerings. In June 2024, Meta announced plans to introduce free artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on WhatsApp, as part of its strategy to monetize the messaging app. This move is aimed at leveraging AI to enhance user experience and provide value-added services.
Monetization Efforts
Despite being Meta's largest app in terms of daily users, WhatsApp contributes only a small portion of Meta's total revenue. To address this, Meta has introduced commerce and payment features on WhatsApp, including business messaging tools for customer service and marketing. These tools are designed to help businesses use the app more effectively to sell products and services.
On June 6, 2024, WhatsApp introduced AI tools aimed at helping businesses interact with customers. These tools include features that answer common shopper questions, create ads for Instagram or Facebook, and follow up with customers about abandoned carts or potential discounts.
Collaboration with India's ONDC
In December 2023, Meta partnered with India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an open network that promotes platform-neutral digital commerce. This partnership aims to help smaller merchants conduct business on WhatsApp. Meta stated that the collaboration is designed to “enable and educate small businesses in building seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp through an ecosystem of our business and technical solution providers.”
Future Prospects and User Engagement
Looking ahead, WhatsApp's continuous efforts to introduce new features and tools highlight its commitment to enhancing user engagement and expanding its user base. The integration of AI chatbots and business tools is expected to drive further growth and monetization, solidifying WhatsApp's position as a leading messaging platform globally.
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