WhatsApp Plus gives you extras
For a small group of users, WhatsApp has started testing WhatsApp Plus. It is a subscription that gives you access to more functionality. This is a limited test, with the functionality not yet officially announced. A screen appears for some users, showing the option to start the subscription. In doing so, they will get a one-month free trial. Prices are not yet mentioned, but what is certain is that it will therefore cost money.
Initial experiences point to a number of extras that mainly revolve around personalisation and convenience. Think exclusive stickers, extra options to customise the look of the app and even alternative app icons. Practical features also stand out, such as being able to pin unlimited chats and additional settings for notifications, such as premium ring tones.
Interestingly, many of these features were previously only available through customised, unofficial, third-party versions of WhatsApp. Those very apps were actively opposed in the past by Meta Platforms, the parent company behind WhatsApp. Users even risked a ban if they used such alternative apps.
This makes the introduction of WhatsApp Plus wry for some users: features that were not allowed before are now offered as paid extras. At the same time, it fits into a broader trend of apps seeking new revenue models. For instance, there is speculation that ads will play a bigger role in WhatsApp, and that a subscription might give you the option to avoid them (partially). Thereby, it is considered possible that certain functionality will be more often behind a pay wall in the future.
Via Reddit
