WhatsApp will introduce voice communications
Four years after founding texting network company, Jan Koum says Facebook’s latest acquisition is ready to expand
ROSA JIMÉNEZ CANO Barcelona 24 FEB 2014 - 15:42 CET2
WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum during a Keynote conference as part of the first day of the Mobile World Congress 2014. / DAVID RAMOS (GETTY IMAGES)
"Today is a very special day. On February 24th, 2009 we went to San Francisco and registered our company. We had no users, no service, nothing, just a dream," said Koum, who is also chief executive at Whats App. "We wanted to connect people. Now we have over 500 million users."
And then, the news: "We want to make sure people always have the ability to stay in touch with their friends and loved ones really affordably. We're going to introduce voice on WhatsApp in the second quarter of this year."
Silence fell over a room where attendance costs at least 6,000 dollars. That is to say, a room filled with telecoms executives (who probably did not want to hear this sort of thing). Until now, WhatsApp allowed users to record messages and deliver them walkie-talkie style, but the next step is going to be actual voice conversations, mirroring Skype.
In principle this is bad news for operators who have already seen SMS revenues dwindle. But it is likely that WhatsApp (and its brand new owner Facebook) will reach deals with mobile network operators so both sides can win - more advertising in one case, and more data use in the other.
"We promise not to change," said Koum, dressed informally in jeans. "Our philosophy is to put people in touch... Thank you for sharing WhatsApp with your friends."
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