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WhatsApp hits 1 billion users

WhatsApp hits 1 billion users

Mobile Telephony

The instant messaging service, WhatsApp has hit 1 billion users, it announced on its blog post

“We’re excited to see how far we’ve come. But now, it’s back to work – because we still have another 6 billion people to get on WhatsApp, and a long way left to go,” the statement said.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for some $19 billion and doubled its user base over the past year.

WhatsApp announced that it will scrap the $1 fee it charges annually and allow subscribers to use the service free of charge.

CEO and Co- Founder, Jan Koum, announced this at the Digital- Life- Design(DLD) conference in Munich.

He said millions (now a billion) people worldwide use the application to stay in touch with family and friends, the $1 a year subscription fee could be a barrier to further growth.

WhatsApp will be finding new ways for businesses to get in touch with users instead of charging customers.