WhatsApp is the current leader in the instant messaging app market with over 500 million monthly active users globally. In April WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum also touted that the service has over 48 million monthly active users in India.The cross platform app which was acquired by Facebook in February this year, has joined hands with Airtel to provide special data packs.
The telecom company is offering up to 200MB of WhatsApp usage for one month depending on the circles. There are several data packs ranging from as low as Rs 36 to Rs 49 per month depending upon the circles. Airtel users can avail the data packs and activate the service by messaging WhatsApp’ to 121. The Airtel website touts that these data packs are available for 2G and 3G users.
WhatsApp had previously made such carrier deals with other telecom operators like Uninor Tata Docomo and others. Not only WhatsApp but other instant messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger and relatively new Hike messenger have also played this card to attract users and shift them to their platform.
WhatsApp is now on the verge of launching voice calling on its platform sometime in Q2.