WhatsApp is testing paid service for company helpdesks

WhatsApp is testing its paid service, which will allow corporate helpdesks to send chat messages to customers. The subsidiary of Facebook ensures that companies will spam customers with offers.

One of the first customers for the service is start-up Cowlar, a cow-monitoring service. The director of the company confirms the test to Reuters news agency. The test allows Cowlar to send farmers WhatsApp messages if a cow behaves unusually.

For the test, the Facebook subsidiary has signed an agreement with Y Combinator, a partnership for start-ups. It is unknown when companies outside of Y Combinator will be able to sign up for the paid service.

The intention is that in the future internet providers can, for example, inform customers of construction activities and disruptions in the area or that airlines provide travelers with updates about delays. According to documents that Reuters has seen, WhatsApp is guarding against companies spamming customers.

WhatsApp announced last year that it wanted to make money by setting up a paid service for companies. Until now, that service does not exist. Facebook acquired WhatsApp a few years ago for $19 billion.