Giant Messaging platform Whatsapp started exploring its monetization channel way back before its acquisition by Facebook. They were about to charge $1 per user per year for the usage of Whatsapp, later they changed its monetization tactics after being acquired by Facebook.
Since ditching its annual service fee model, WhatsApp has been exploring way to make money out of its awesome product. With a view to opening up a monetization channel — even as CEO Jan Koum has claimed it will never be putting “ads in the product”.
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Brilliantly, Whatsapp came with its B2B revenue model and few days back opened its API for businesses. Now, in a pilot mode, WhatsApp is testing its model providing verified business accounts in India. In the coming days, you might me receiving OTP or Invoices through Whatsapp on booking an online order.
In the FAQ on verified business accounts, WhatsApp notes that users will be informed when they are talking to a business.
Verified business accounts(FAQ Whatsapp)
Some business accounts have been verified by WhatsApp. If you see a green badge
next to a contact’s name, it means that WhatsApp has confirmed that the phone number of this contact belongs to a business account.WhatsApp will also let you know when you start talking to a business via yellow messages inside a chat. There is no way to delete these messages from the chat.
If you already have a business’s phone number saved in your address book, the name you will see is the name you have saved in your address book.
If you don’t have a business’s phone number saved in your address book, the name you will see is the name the business has chosen for themselves.
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If you’d like to stop a business from contacting you, you can block them.
Note: WhatsApp business verification is currently limited to a small number of businesses participating in a pilot program.
(Source)