Pierre T.
## WHATSAPP OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES PAYMENTS SERVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN BRAZIL
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has announced the launch of a payment service for small businesses in Brazil. Users can now make purchases directly from the app using their Mastercard or Visa credit, debit, or prepaid cards without the need to visit a website or download a separate app. The feature is currently available for a limited number of businesses but is expected to roll out widely in the coming months.
## WHATSAPP COMPETES WITH THIRD-PARTY PAYMENT SERVICES
TechCrunch reports that WhatsApp previously allowed businesses to accept payments via third-party payment services. However, with the launch of its own payment service, it competes directly with those services. As the company increasingly positions itself as a platform for business communication, payment services like this are critical to its growth.
## WHATSAPP IS FOLLOWING IN WECHAT’S FOOTSTEPS
As WhatsApp expands its services, it is drawing some parallels with the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Among other features, WeChat offers payment and social media services, making it a comprehensive app for communication and commerce in China. In a similar vein, WhatsApp’s payment service is part of a broader push into the intersection of communication and business.
Sources: [WhatsApp](https://blog.whatsapp.com/now-you-can-pay-a-small-business-in-brazil-on-whatsapp), [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/11/whatsapp-users-in-brazil-can-now-pay-merchants-through-the-app/)
