# WhatsApp

> WhatsApp is Meta’s global messaging and calling company, combining free personal communication with business apps, messaging APIs, advertising placements and optional subscriptions. Its reach rests on familiar contacts, cross-platform access and default encryption for personal chats.

- **Founded:** 2009
- **Headquarters:** Menlo Park, United States
- **Founders:** Jan Koum (Co-founder; former CEO), Brian Acton (Co-founder)
- **Products:** WhatsApp Messenger, WhatsApp Business app, WhatsApp Business Platform, Updates monetization, Business AI in India
- **Notable:** Exceeded 450 million monthly users by February 2014., Completed default Signal Protocol encryption rollout in 2016., Current official About page reports more than 3 billion users across more than 180 countries.

## Products & services

- **WhatsApp Messenger** — Personal messages, media sharing and voice and video calls across supported devices.
- **WhatsApp Business app** — Business profiles and messaging tools for smaller businesses; Android launched in 2018, iOS in 2019.
- **WhatsApp Business Platform** — APIs for integrating customer messaging with business systems.
- **Updates monetization** — Status ads, promoted Channels and paid Channel subscriptions announced in June 2025.
- **Business AI in India** — Customer-response and sales-assistance tools for eligible WhatsApp Business app users.
- **WhatsApp Plus** — Optional extras through Meta One; announced starting price $2.99/month, varying by account and region.
- **Guest calling** — Account holders can invite browser guests without WhatsApp accounts, subject to host approval.

## Achievements

- Exceeded 450 million monthly users by February 2014.
- Completed default Signal Protocol encryption rollout in 2016.
- Current official About page reports more than 3 billion users across more than 180 countries.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Introduced Business AI for eligible smaller businesses in India.
- **2026-07** — Announced voice and video calling directly from WhatsApp Web.
- **2026-08** — Announced stronger two-step verification and additional unknown-caller context.
- **2026-09** — Meta One announcement included optional WhatsApp Plus subscription extras.
- **2026-10** — Announced guest calling for people without WhatsApp accounts; calendar integrations described as coming later in the year.

## Links

- Website: https://www.whatsapp.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whatsapp.
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/whatsapp
- GitHub: https://github.com/whatsapp
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuerig2N-RZWJT8x75V9yw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsapp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatsApp

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/whatsapp
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22