Everyone’s favorite mobile messaging app, WhatsApp is bringing in its iOS app in line with the apps it makes for other platforms, making it an annual subscription service. WhatsApp CEO, Jan Koum says the company will be shifting its iOS app to one where new uses pay annually and keep using, taking it away from the a one-off download fee and bringing it in line with how it is distributed on the Android, Blackberry, Nokia and Windows Phone platforms.
According to Koum, the new subscription model applies to new users and would likely follow the same pricing structure as its other apps, which are free for the first year, and cost US$1 annually.
With regards to a desktop version of WhatsApp, Koum said that the company will not be making a desktop version of its service any time soon. He suggests that the desktop is turning into a secondary experience as opposed to mobile phones where we often carry wherever we go.
Source: TechCrunch