WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users. But how did WhatsApp get started and become so successful? Let’s take a look at the history and origins of WhatsApp.
The Founders of WhatsApp
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, two former employees of Yahoo. After leaving Yahoo, Acton and Koum decided to create their own messaging app that would allow people to communicate in a simple, easy way.
Koum was originally from Ukraine and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. He has a computer programming background and worked at Yahoo for over 9 years as an infrastructure engineer. Acton was born in Michigan and worked at Yahoo for over 20 years in various engineering roles.
In 2009, Acton persuaded Koum to join him in building a messaging app. The two men were frustrated with the limitations of SMS messaging and wanted to create an app that could provide free messaging globally.
The Early Days of WhatsApp
WhatsApp launched in November 2009 as an app for iPhone only. The name “WhatsApp” is a play on the phrase “What’s up?” The initial purpose was to create an app that could notify users of their online friends’ status.
The first version of WhatsApp had a simple interface that allowed users to create a profile, set a status, and connect with their phonebook friends who were also using WhatsApp. There was no messaging capability in this first version.
In early 2010, WhatsApp released an update that allowed iPhone users to send each other unlimited messages without having to pay SMS fees. This messaging feature became the core functionality that helped WhatsApp gain popularity.
Cross-Platform Expansion
While WhatsApp started as an iPhone exclusive app, the founders soon realized the potential for cross-platform messaging.
In August 2010, a version for Android launched. With Android’s growing user base, this opened up WhatsApp to new audiences.
In January 2011, WhatsApp came out with a BlackBerry version. At the time, BlackBerry was still a major player in the smartphone market. This expanded WhatsApp’s availability even further.
WhatsApp for Windows Phone
In May 2011, recognizing the rising prominence of Windows Phone, WhatsApp released a version for that platform. This was followed by a Symbian version in July 2011 for Nokia phones running Symbian OS.
WhatsApp Web
To facilitate messaging through PCs, WhatsApp launched a web version in January 2015. This web app mirrors the mobile app and syncs across devices. Users can scan a QR code from their mobile app to connect their account to WhatsApp web.
Key Moments in WhatsApp Growth
Here are some major milestones in WhatsApp’s rise in popularity:
- In October 2011, WhatsApp hits 1 billion total messages sent per day
- In April 2012, WhatsApp reaches 200 million active users
- In December 2012, WhatsApp processes 18 billion messages per day
- In June 2013, WhatsApp passes 250 million active users
- In December 2013, WhatsApp adds support for iOS 7 notifications
- In April 2014, WhatsApp is acquired by Facebook for $19 billion
As these milestones show, WhatsApp experienced tremendous growth in its early years. Its acquisition by Facebook in 2014 was a culminating event that provided the resources for even greater expansion.
How WhatsApp Built Its User Base
There are several key factors that helped WhatsApp expand so rapidly during its first five years:
Focus on Speed and Reliability
From the start, WhatsApp put emphasis on delivering fast, reliable messaging. Their app was optimized to connect quickly and send messages through an internet data connection. This provided the speed advantage over SMS.
Cross-Platform Availability
By expanding across iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other platforms, WhatsApp was able to attract users no matter what devices they preferred. The multi-platform strategy brought in new users and also locked in existing ones.
Intuitive Interface
WhatsApp’s user interface has always been simple, clean, and intuitive. The apps follow the visual language of each OS for familiarity. Chats, contacts, and settings are easily accessible. This makes the app easy for anyone to start using right away.
Group Messaging
The ability to set up group chats brought a new dynamic to messaging. Groups made it easy to communicate with multiple people at once, which attracted more users.
Media Sharing
When WhatsApp added the ability to send photos, videos, and other media, it became more than just a texting app. Media sharing enhanced users’ communication experience.
Status
The “Status” feature, modeled after Snapchat and Instagram Stories, gave users another way to share moments and updates through temporary posts. Status increased engagement and usage.
Network Effect
As more people started using WhatsApp, it naturally became attractive to join the app to message people you know who are already on there. The momentum of network effect helped propel WhatsApp’s rapid growth.
How WhatsApp Makes Money
WhatsApp was initially free and did not run any ads. In 2016, WhatsApp introduced a small annual subscription fee of $1 per year for users after their first year. The fee helps fund operating costs.
In 2018, WhatsApp launched the WhatsApp Business app and API, allowing businesses to communicate with customers via WhatsApp. Facebook charges larger enterprises fees for this service.
WhatsApp also makes some money indirectly via facilitating communication between businesses and consumers. Users may find businesses through WhatsApp and then make purchases from those business’s websites or physical stores.
Major Changes After Facebook Acquisition
Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp was a landmark event that provided funding for big improvements in the service. However, it also led to some controversial changes.
End-to-End Encryption
In 2014, shortly after the Facebook acquisition, WhatsApp partnered with Open Whisper Systems to add end-to-end encryption. This boosted WhatsApp’s privacy and security.
Story Posts
Taking inspiration from Snapchat, WhatsApp launched its “Status” feature in 2017. Status introduced another way for users to post disappearing photos and videos.
WhatsApp Pay
An in-app payments system called WhatsApp Pay was developed, first launching in India in 2018. The feature could allow purchases directly within WhatsApp.
Policy Changes
Facebook’s ownership led to WhatsApp updating its terms of service and privacy policy to allow more data sharing with Facebook. This caused significant user backlash over privacy concerns.
Recent Developments
WhatsApp continues evolving with new features and updates:
- 2020 – WhatsApp Pay launches in Brazil
- 2020 – 100 billion messages handled per day
- 2021 – Multi-device support added
- 2022 – Communities feature launched
Some upcoming developments include in-app business tools and the ability to use WhatsApp on multiple devices. WhatsApp’s core messaging capabilities remain its most popular features.
Conclusion
WhatsApp has cemented itself as one of the world’s leading messaging platforms. It has positioned itself as a simple, reliable app for keeping in touch with friends and family. WhatsApp’s founders successfully built a cross-platform app that achieved tremendous growth in just a few years. While Facebook’s ownership brought changes, WhatsApp remains focused on fast messaging across devices and national borders. Going forward, new features like WhatsApp Pay could turn it into a platform for commerce and payments. But at its core, WhatsApp is still about friendly communication and bringing people together.