WhatsApp launches app for Businesses

Communications App developer WhatsApp officially launched its WhatsApp Buisness app across selected markets yesterday. Users in Indonesia, Mexico, the US and the UK can download and use the free app on Android platforms initially.

The app, aimed at smaller businesses, helps companies connect with their customers and allows them to establish an official presence on WhatsApp’s service, like a WhatsApp equivalent of a Facebook page.

Verified, official businesses are marked with a green B check-mark to demonstrate their legitimacy. to register on the new app, companies can set up their WhatsApp profiles by filling out their business details such as website and email address.

Some of the benefits of WhatsApp Business are automated replies giving answers to frequently asked questions, greeting messages which introduce the business to prospective and new clients and messages that let customers know the business is busy.

Message statistics will be available & can make use of WhatsApp Web to send and receive from desktop computers.

There is to be an enterprise solution released for larger businesses in the future catering for businesses such as airlines, e-commerce sites and banks, businesses that need to communicate with their customer base. There is likely to be a charge for the enterprise tools.

Although the business app is only available on android platforms at the moment, there are plans for release on other platforms.