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OTT messaging giant reiterates commitment to providing a gimmick-free service.
WhatsApp on Monday revealed it now has 1 billion monthly active users.
"We are proud of this milestone, and we’re humbled by the extraordinary ways all of you have used WhatsApp," the over-the-top (OTT) messaging service said on its official blog. "We’re honoured to be a small part of what people are doing to make their lives and the lives of those around them better."
It is almost two years since WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for US$19 billion (€17.4 billion). Back in February 2014, WhatsApp had 450 million monthly active users, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was well on the way to 1 billion.
"There are only a few services that connect more than a billion people. This milestone is an important step towards connecting the entire world," Zuckerberg said on Monday.
The milestone was reached less than two weeks after WhatsApp announced it is making its service completely free. Previously, subscribers were given free usage for a year and were then charged an annual fee of $0.99.
WhatsApp’s success has been attributed to its ease of use and commitment to providing an ad-free service that respects users’ privacy, and it has maintained this reputation despite being owned by a company that mines information from people for the benefit of advertisers.
"WhatsApp began as a simple idea: ensuring that anyone could stay in touch with family and friends anywhere on the planet, without costs or gimmicks standing in the way," WhatsApp said. "So even as we celebrate this achievement, our focus remains the same."
