How To Use WhatsApp, The Messaging App That's Bigger Than Facebook Messaging

2013-12-20T02:26:00.000Z

WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum Asa Mathat/AllThingsD

WhatsApp is an instant messaging service based in Santa Clara, Calif., that just reached 400 million monthly users. According to The Telegraph, WhatsApp sends 20 billion messages per day — double the size of Facebook's daily messaging traffic.

The app was created in 2009 by former Yahoo! employees Brian Acton and Jan Koum. WhatsApp allows you to send text messages, audio, and video to others — as long as you subscribe. But as long as you have a strong internet connection, the app will never add additional roaming charges to your phone.

Apps like WeChat and LINE pose a big threat to WhatsApp since they have the same features and are acquiring similarly massive userbases overseas.

WhatsApp is available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia and Windows. Are you interested in WhatsApp?

After you download WhatsApp, it'll ask for you to enter your phone number.

The app will text you an SMS code to enter in order to verify your account.

You'll get a notification telling you that you'll have one year of free service. Afterwards, it will cost $0.99

Here's your profile. You can important all the information from Facebook to quickly make it.

Screenshot

This is what your finished profile will look like.

Screenshot

Contacts will be added from Facebook too.

Users can post a status just like Facebook. The app gives you a bunch of preprogrammed responses.

Statuses can be deleted.

Statuses have a limit of 139 characters.

You'll see who else has the app on your favorites screen.

You can search for contacts the same way like you do in your own phone-book.

This is what it looks like when you add a new contact.

Now select a contact to start chatting.

Here is the full layout of a contact page. Send a message to start talking.

Here's the chat screen. You can choose to call someone or get more info from their profile or just call them directly.

Screenshot

Settings controls everything on the app.

Go to accounts and adjust payment info, adjust network usage and change the number associated with your profile.

Screenshot

Chat settings lets you change text size and block people.

Make chats more festive. Add new wallpapers.

This is a selection of preinstalled wallpapers.

You can create wallpapers from you photo stream.

In chat settings, you can block people from talking to you as well as save all your chats.

Add timestamps for every message in the advanced section.

To block someone, click add new.

You'll be directed towards your contact page. All you have to do is tap one name.

The name will appear on the blocked list. You can add more or decide to take that person off.

Use the backup option to save every chat you have with anyone.

The notification feature helps you control how you get alerts for group chats or single messages.

How To Use WhatsApp, The Messaging App That's Bigger Than Facebook Messaging

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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How To Use WhatsApp, The Messaging App That's Bigger Than Facebook Messaging

After you download WhatsApp, it'll ask for you to enter your phone number.

The app will text you an SMS code to enter in order to verify your account.

You'll get a notification telling you that you'll have one year of free service. Afterwards, it will cost $0.99

Here's your profile. You can important all the information from Facebook to quickly make it.

This is what your finished profile will look like.

Contacts will be added from Facebook too.

Users can post a status just like Facebook. The app gives you a bunch of preprogrammed responses.

Statuses can be deleted.

Statuses have a limit of 139 characters.

You'll see who else has the app on your favorites screen.

You can search for contacts the same way like you do in your own phone-book.

This is what it looks like when you add a new contact.

Now select a contact to start chatting.

Here is the full layout of a contact page. Send a message to start talking.

Here's the chat screen. You can choose to call someone or get more info from their profile or just call them directly.

Settings controls everything on the app.

Go to accounts and adjust payment info, adjust network usage and change the number associated with your profile.

Chat settings lets you change text size and block people.

Make chats more festive. Add new wallpapers.

This is a selection of preinstalled wallpapers.

You can create wallpapers from you photo stream.

In chat settings, you can block people from talking to you as well as save all your chats.

Add timestamps for every message in the advanced section.

To block someone, click add new.

You'll be directed towards your contact page. All you have to do is tap one name.

The name will appear on the blocked list. You can add more or decide to take that person off.

Use the backup option to save every chat you have with anyone.

The notification feature helps you control how you get alerts for group chats or single messages.

If the WhatsApp system is having issues, the app connects directly to the official twitter account to keep track of issues.

Once you're done with WhatsApp.

Try out this messaging app from China that has 300 million users >>

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know