WhatsApp is a messaging and calling application owned by Meta, offering text and voice messages, voice and video calls including group calls, group chats, and Status updates. According to the official site, personal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, so only the people communicating can read or listen to them — not even WhatsApp. The app runs on mobile, desktop, tablet, and the web.
WhatsApp Business and boundaries
Alongside the personal app, WhatsApp offers WhatsApp Business for companies to reach customers, showcase products, and deliver services. The app itself is free, though the official site notes that data charges may apply; platform rules, regional availability, and feature differences belong on the official website.
Discussion in the show
In Weekly #004’s chapter “掌上设备与日常生活” (Handheld devices and daily life), discussing Meta’s Muse hardware and ecosystem, Orange adds “it also has WhatsApp” while listing the company’s closed loop of “data, an agent, and all its earlier content” in the Chinese transcript. WhatsApp appears there as part of Meta’s ecosystem and data loop. This is a participant’s summary of Meta’s product layout, not an official WhatsApp product plan; for context, see the Muse Personal Agent entry.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is a messaging app under Meta; the official page is signed WhatsApp LLC, a Meta company.
Is WhatsApp free?
Personal messaging and calls are free; the official site notes that data charges from carriers may apply.
How do I use WhatsApp Web?
Open web.whatsapp.com in a browser and pair it with your phone by following the on-screen instructions.
What is the difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business?
The former is for personal chats and calls; the latter lets businesses reach and serve customers. Feature differences belong on the official website.