Notes

The name of the world’s most famous messaging app is a pun. In English, the expression What’s Up can be translated as "What’s Up?" or "What’s New?". Changing that expression by WhatsApp manages to evoke that informal greeting while indicating that we are before a mobile application.

Despite its success, WhatsApp is a company that has never invested in advertising. It’s a clear example of how word of mouth can make an app popular and become the best marketing campaign.


Specifically, 27% of the world’s population has an account in this popular application. Yes, 2 billion people worldwide use WhatsApp. The app is available in 180 countries of the 194 recognized in the world. Clearly, it’s a successful application.



WHATSAPP ESTÁ PROHIBIDA EN ALGUNOS PAÍSES
WhatsApp está prohibida en algunos países. Aquí va un listado con algunos de los países que no permiten utilizar WhatsApp.

China. En este país utilizan una aplicación de origen nacional llamada WeChat. Esta última puede instalarse y usarse en España.
Vietnam. Como alternativa usan la aplicación Zalo. El gobierno ha prohibido diversas aplicaciones de mensajería y redes sociales para mantener controlada a la población e impedir comentarios contrarios.
Corea del Norte. Un país enormemente cerrado que no permite el uso de redes sociales ni de plataformas de mensajería. Los usuarios que disponen de un smartphone se comunican a través de aplicaciones similares a WhatsApp.
Siria. El uso de WhatsApp está prohibido por cuestiones políticas.
Irán. Allí se utiliza más Telegram. Es cierto que WhatsApp funciona, pero existen problemas técnicos en la conexión a Internet que impiden su uso normal.
WHATSAPP IS BANNED IN SOME COUNTRIES
WhatsApp is banned in some countries. Here is a list of some of the countries that do not allow the use of WhatsApp.

China. In this country they use an application of national origin called WeChat. The latter can be installed and used in Spain.
Vietnam. As an alternative they use the Zalo application. The government has banned several messaging applications and social networks to keep the population under control and prevent contrary comments.
North Korea. An extremely closed country that does not allow the use of social networks or messaging platforms. Users with a smartphone communicate through applications similar to WhatsApp.
Syria. The use of WhatsApp is prohibited for political reasons.
Iran. Telegram is more widely used there. It is true that WhatsApp works, but there are technical problems with the Internet connection that prevent its normal use


the app doesn’t charge users a cent. But that wasn’t always the case. The first users had to buy WhatsApp for 0.89 euros in the App Store.

"No ads, no gimmicks, no games". Or what is the same, "no ads, no tricks, no games". Since the acquisition of the app by Facebook, that promising slogan has become outdated. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is mainly characterized by having many advertisements, tricks and games (in the worst sense of the word).

WhatsApp usually focuses on reaching the most people in the world. The app continues to dominate in India, Germany, Russia, and U.K. However, despite its impressive statistics, WhatsApp is not alone in this market. Competing applications include Signal, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Skype and even Twitter DMs.


With calls, you can talk to your friends and family for free, even if they are in another country. And with free video calls, you can talk face-to-face when you need more than just listening to their voice or reading a text message. WhatsApp calls and video calls use your phone’s internet connection, rather than the voice minutes of your mobile plan, so you don’t have to worry about expensive call charges.


“No ads! No games! No gimmicks!” – A simple principle which helped a small messaging application win over giants like iMessage, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, LINE, Kik Messenger, Kakao-Talk, and many others – while operating with a staff of just 50 employees.

In February 2014, Facebook acquired Whatsapp for a whopping $19 billion and left everyone wondering about such a valuation of Whatsapp.