Tuesday June 16, 2020
In this May 2, 2016 file photo women check their cell phones as they walk on the sidewalk in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Facebook’s WhatsApp chat platform is launching mobile payments in Brazil, a country often used to test out new services because of its large online population. WhatsApp said in a blog post Monday, June 15, 2020 that users in Brazil will now be able to send money securely, or make a purchase from a local business, without leaving their chat. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)
Facebook’s WhatsApp chat platform is launching mobile payments in Brazil, a country often used to test out new services because of its large online population.
WhatsApp said in a blog post Monday that users in Brazil will now be able to send money securely, or make a purchase from a local business, without leaving their chat.
WhatsApp Pay will be free for using to make purchases and send money. Facebook will charge a 3.99% processing fee per transaction to businesses.
Facebook did not say when the tool may be available in other countries, just that it is looking “forward to bringing it to everyone as we go forward.”
The mobile payments push is part of Facebook's strategy to expand to new sources of revenue beyond advertising.