WhatsApp is becoming increasingly popular
Cell phone providers in the Netherlands have already adjusted their mobile plans due to a change in customer behavior. Traditional calling and text messaging is losing its popularity and a growing number of smartphone users is using the application WhatsApp to perform these tasks.
Whatsapp is a cross platform messenger that allows users to call and send messages to each other with their data plan. You don’t have to use the same type of phone in order to call or send media messages to each other. This means that users with an HTC Android smartphone can send messages to users with an iPhone.
The program can be run on iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Nokia phones and since it only uses the data network, users only have to pay for their data plan. Because of this phone providers feel they have to change their plans and raise their rates for data usage, as it might replace normal usage.
Right now about 43 percent of all Dutch smartphone users installed WhatsApp on their smartphone. Four months ago about 30 percent was using the application, so it gained about 13 percent in just four months. Research has shown that most people who download WhatsApp do use the program. Only 3 percent of the smartphone users that downloaded WhatsApp said they never use it.