What is WhatsApp and its history, features, strengths, weaknesses etc
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Instant messaging-based social media is one of the must-have applications for today's smartphone users. The need for information and communication is crucial to support productivity and social which must be required. WhatsApp is one of the most influential instant messaging applications worldwide
Moreover, the latest data of February 2020 shows that WhatsApp has two billion users worldwide. This data makes WhatsApp the number one instant messenger in the world, with the most users, leaving behind Telegram, Line, WeChat and others. However, there are some users who also install other instant messaging apps like Telegram, Line and the like.
Globally WhatsApp users dominate, any information and communication is mostly done through WhatsApp, be it business, education, personal, community/group gatherings. If you want to know more what is WhatsApp? You can see complete explanation of WhatsApp meaning, its history and its benefits. Review here;
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp is a free cross-platform instant messaging application that also uses Voice over IP (VoIP) technology owned by Facebook, Inc. With this technology, users can send text and voice messages to each other, make voice (audio) and video calls, share images/pictures, videos, documents, locations and other media fo
The WhatsApp application can be used on mobile devices such as Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry OS, and others. WhatsApp can also be used on desktop devices through a web browser, but cellphones and computers are connected to the Internet network. WhatsApp has launched another version for small and large businesses such as SMEs and SMEs, called WhatsApp Business. A WhatsApp business presence will maximize the company or line of business in communicating with clients who use WhatsApp.
Apart from Facebook, Inc's WhatsApp, there are several third-party developers who modify or custom WhatsApp such as WhatsApp GB or WhatsApp MOD. To make it easier to understand, the following is an explanation of the WhatsApp variants that are developing on the internet
Type a description
WhatsApp is an instant messaging application (Instant Messenger) standard version developed by WhatsApp, Inc.
WhatsApp Web is a version of WhatsApp that is opened through a computer/desktop browser.
WhatsApp Business is a version of WhatsApp for the needs of large and small businesses.
WhatsApp MOD is an unofficial version of WhatsApp that has been modified by adding unique features that are not available in standard WhatsApp.
WhatsApp history.
Developed by WhatsApp Inc
Business Type of Subsidiary
Facebook is the parent company
Founder Jan Koum
Brian Acton
First published January 2009
Operating System Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry OS, Symbian, Windows, MacOS, Web
Instant messaging and social media types
Free Software License
Website www.whatsapp.com
Alexa Ranking 66 (September 19, 2020)
2 billion users (February 2020)
2009 was the year that Brian Acton and former Yahoo! Employees Brian Acton and Jan Kum left Yahoo in September 2007 after taking a vacation in the United States. At that time, they applied for a job on Facebook but it was rejected.
A new idea was created while buying an iPhone and realizing the potential of apps in the App Store. Koum and Acton began discussing creating a messaging app when they met with Koum's friend Alex Fishman in West San Jose, California. From the discussion, they finally agreed.
WhatsApp sounds?
Koum named the WhatsApp app to sound like "What's Up". February 24, 2009, WhatsApp Inc. in California, USA. Due to limited functionality on the iPhone, Koum wanted to give up but Acton pressured him to wait a few more months. In June 2009, the iPhone introduced push notifications that can be pinged when users are not using the application.
With the appearance of this feature, Koum started to change which finally started attracting WhatsApp iPhone users. WhatsApp 2.0 released with user growth reaching 250,000. After several months in beta, the global version of WhatsApp was finally released on the App Store for iPhone in November 2009. In December 2009, WhatsApp added the feature of sending photos and in early 2011, WhatsApp became one of the top apps in the App Store.
In February 2013, WhatsApp has about 200 million active users. In February 2014, Facebook, Inc. Acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock At first the acquisition angered users and some users switched to other apps like Telegram and Line. As of time ticking, August 2014 WhatsApp has 600 million users.
On February 24, 2017, WhatsApp introduced a new feature that allows users to create Stories similar to Snapchat and Facebook. In early 2020, WhatsApp introduced the "Dark Mode" feature for Android and iPhone devices. The existence of this feature allows users to change the appearance of the chat to dark so that it does not tire the eyes.
WhatsApp Features and Benefits
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As a chat application, WhatsApp not only serves as a communication tool but has evolved as a medium for education, business and entertainment. Even in the future, perhaps WhatsApp will introduce a payment feature to diversify its functionality. To understand more about WhatsApp application, check the following list;
1. Individual and group means of communication
As an instant messaging application, WhatsApp plays an important role in communication for both individuals and groups Through WhatsApp, users can send text messages, photos, audio, video, documents and make audio and video calls. WhatsApp allows users to share their location with each other at intervals of hours or in real-time.
Users can communicate with each other in a group. The latest feature allows users to make group video calls with limited members.
2. Teaching and learning medium
The reason for using WhatsApp as a teaching and learning medium is the ease of communication. Many examples, such as schools, universities and course institutions, use WhatsApp as a place to learn and share information both individually and in groups. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced children to study online at home through the WhatsApp application.
3. Business media
WhatsApp is also used by many business people for promotion, information to order products/services. The story feature is commonly used by marketers to advertise products to customer testimonials. WhatsApp has also introduced a business version to make it more convenient for business people to respond to incoming messages. In WhatsApp Business, users can add features like opening hours for auto-responders to make it very suitable for business needs.
4. Sharing information and entertainment
WhatsApp can also be used as a medium for information sharing and entertainment. Support for the forward feature will speed up the dissemination of information from one user to another, or even to groups. Users can also use stories to share exciting things as entertainment/refreshing.
Advantages and Disadvantages of WhatsApp
WhatsApp has many advantages and disadvantages. The features are indeed very pleasing to the users, but in terms of security and privacy, it is still a question for many users. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of WhatsApp application;
Benefits of WhatsApp
Many users. WhatsApp is used by more than 2 billion internet users worldwide. Your friends can also use WhatsApp as a communication tool so communicating with them will be much easier.
Automatically sync contacts. When the user saves a new contact, the contact will be automatically synced to the WhatsApp application. Users no longer have to add new contacts to WhatsApp one by one.
Can backup chats automatically. WhatsApp has an automatic backup feature within a day of usage to Google Drive. That means users need not fear while using the new smartphone while the chat data is still there on the old smartphone.
The security system is quite good. In November 2014, WhatsApp introduced an end-to-end encryption feature to ensure the security of conversations between users, when sending messages, photos, videos, voice and video calls.
The user can cancel the message. When sending a message, users can cancel or retract the message with a note that it is still available within 7 minutes. More than that, the user cannot do it.
Disadvantages of WhatsApp
Do not use cloud systems. Unlike Telegram where all messages are stored on cloud servers, while WhatsApp does not store all data on servers. WhatsApp only allows data to be stored on servers for a period of time, after which the data will be deleted.
WhatsApp Web cannot be used for video calls. When the user opens WhatsApp through a computer browser, the user cannot make audio and video calls. Even the introduction of WhatsApp program for MacOS and Windows does not provide audio and video calls.
WhatsApp Web cannot be used when the Kinaa smartphone app is closed. While using WhatsApp Web, make sure that the internet and WhatsApp smartphone are activated. Otherwise WhatsApp Web cannot be used.
User data used by Facebook for advertising. WhatsApp uses user data such as name and phone number to improve Facebook advertising for more targeting. Don't be surprised if Facebook friendship shows names in WhatsApp contacts.
conclusion,
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WhatsApp is one application that still dominates the instant messaging applications in the world. Apart from WhatsApp, an application that some users are starting to notice is Telegram, which is currently a competitor of WhatsApp that will become increasingly popular in the future. Telegram does not charge all the messages stored in the internal memory so it does not cause the internal memory of the smartphone to be full. Here are some questions that may open up more insight into the WhatsApp application.
What is WhatsApp end-to-end encryption?
WhatsApp's security system uses end-to-end encryption technology where only the sender and receiver can access it, be it text messages, photos, videos, audio and video calls.
Can the government see WhatsApp messages?
If end-to-end encryption is truly implemented, governments and other parties cannot access it. As of today, there is no information that the government is viewing the privacy messages of all WhatsApp users
Is WhatsApp mode safe?
WhatsApp Mod is Unofficial WhatsApp (fake version) and advise not to install WhatsApp as there is no guarantee of security.
What is the difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business?
Regular WhatsApp is used for personal needs while WhatsApp Business is used for business needs and communicating with clients. WhatsApp Business features are more focused on business needs, though regular WhatsApp features remain.
What is the difference between WhatsApp and Telegram?
There are many differences between WhatsApp and Telegram. One of them is that WhatsApp stores all messages on the user's cellphone, while Telegram stores all messages on cloud servers.
How to use WhatsApp?
Users can download WhatsApp application from Google Play for Android and App Store for iOS (iPhone). Then register using your mobile number.
How to use WhatsApp Web?
Users can login to WhatsApp Web via web.whatsapp.com by scanning the barcode through the smartphone's "WhatsApp Web" camera.
This is the information and explanation I can give about the WhatsApp application, its history and its benefits. Share this article on your social media to make it more effective and useful. If there is anything you want to ask or tell, please write it in the comment column below. Thanks and good luck!
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