Facebook will now start charging users of WhatsApp for Business for some features, in line with its other services on offer. Facebook is making two other additions to WhatsApp Business including adding a Shopping button which will enable people to add items to a card and check out without leaving the app. These features are going live globally today but will come to India later, as per a statement from WhatsApp. Facebook has also launched Facebook Hosting Services to host businesses’ inventory and manage chats with customers. According to TechCrunch, this may be an arrangement where WhatsApp sells hosting services to small and medium sized businesses who are already using WhatsApp Business. It’s unclear if and when the hosting service and charges for WhatsApp Business will roll out in India. We have reached out to WhatsApp for more details. A WhatsApp business account allows small and medium businesses to directly chat with customers, sell products, and provide customer support. It has over 50 million business users; 175 million people currently message a WhatsApp Business account everyday. As of July, India was reportedly among its largest markets, with 15 million MAUs (monthly active users) of WhatsApp for Business. It seems WhatsApp also plans to add payments to the Shopping feature, but its payments services have failed to take off in the largest markets — India and Brazil — stalled by regulatory obstacles. In India, online marketplace Meesho — in which Facebook is an investor — connects sellers with customers on social…
