WhatsApp adds voice following 300 m user milestone
Monday, 12 August 2013 00:03
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Mobile messaging platform WhatsApp has added 50 million users in less than two months to reach 300 million active users, according to a report from tech site CNET. After four years in operation, the company has announced it will add voice messaging to the platform.
“Today, we’re proud to announce that WhatsApp has surpassed 300 million monthly active users worldwide, a milestone on the road to WhatsApp becoming the communication network of the 21st century,” said a company spokesperson.
“On this occasion, we are also excited to introduce voice messaging, a new feature that will allow our customers quickly and easily communicate in real time using voice messages with friends and family, whether they’re across the room or thousands of miles away.”
The voice addition will be a push-to-talk function that will allow users to send a recorded audio clip as part of their message. While not a live two-way communication mode, the service is expected to keep the platform attractive to younger users. The feature is to be rolled out to all platforms according to AllThingsDigital.
Available for download on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Symbian devices, WhatsApp first gained popularity as a service that provided a cheap alternative to SMS. In a single-day record in June, the platform processed 27 billion messages according to the company. Today, WhatsApp claims it processes 11 billion sent messages and 20 billion received messages for a daily total of 31 billion, and daily image uploads of 325 million.
