Eric,
True, this is an interesting development and definitely appropriate for the demographic that heavily depends on WhatsApp.
For me WhatsApp doesn’t really lend itself well for the kind of e-commerce engagement I’m used to but I definitely see it’s been working well for early adopters populations.
For example, Kenyans seem to respond well to WhatsApp groups vs Facebook groups. Whereas Facebook allowed threaded conversations which are easy to follow,WhatsApp does yet Kenyans and others are ok having 20 different active conversations going on in the group. It’s personally too exhausting for me.
If the WhatsApp for business offers better conversations moderation then that’d work. Anyway, I am not their demographic so I can’t relate to this product.
But again for Kenya we still have a large Kabambe population so mpesa is more practical for that market. I’m sure safaricom is going to work hard to defend that market.
Paul.
Sent from my iPhone
Listers,
Unless govt uses tax mechanisms to make WhatsApp unfavourable in this market, if they were to appear on our shores then it would be Checkmate Safcom, but we all know that can't happen.
The exhobitant cost of Mpesa continues to baffle me, Alibaba has free P2P transactions but we are still charged an arm and a leg.
Payments of the future are lifestyle based where the friction between entertainment and purchasing does not exist. We have to move beyond SMS based payments. That vertical simply is for yesteryear.
Eric
Dear Listers,
Another disruption in the mobile payments market.
Who will be the biggest winners? Biggest losers? Partner or compete?
Today Facebook launches payments on WhatsApp in Brazil using Facebook Pay.
"We're making sending and receiving money as easy as sharing photos."
They are also enabling small businesses to make sales right within WhatsApp.
It rolls out in Brazil today but Asia and Africa will soon follow as they are the biggest markets for Facebook.
Interesting times ahead..
Regards,
Paul.
Sent from my iPhone
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