Facebook Integrates WhatsApp In Android App [REPORT]

Facebook has apparently been testing a new feature under which it is looking to integrate the WhatsApp in its Android app for the first time. It’s been a year since the company acquired WhatsApp, and in good news for investors, it is planning to improvise on the app.

Towards deeper integration

The social network has added a “Send” button with the familiar WhatsApp icon, which appears under each status update. The new send button sits on the right side for some users in the latest version of the Facebook Android app, according to the report from Geek Time. This can rightly be called an initial move made by the company to bridge the two platforms to hold its footing and keep growing by taking control of the messaging market together.

WhatsApp, with its active user base of 700 million on a monthly basis, was taken over by Facebook for over $20 billion in February of last year. At present, Facebook Messenger has 600 monthly active users. Both Facebook and WhatsApp are working to improvise on the app’s features.

For now, there is no clarity about the send button, but there is a possibility that its purpose could be to share Facebook articles and posts on WhatsApp. With the reported integration, the social networking site plans to transform the way in which the posts show up in the future, but for now, it seems the company wants to know the level of interaction and sharing across the platforms.

Facebook, WhatsApp breaking their promise?

At the time of acquisition, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum convinced users that nothing would change in the platform and that the company will keep operating independently. The chat app pretty much upheld its promise until now, as there was no collaboration between the platforms. Also until now, Facebook kept on promoting its own Messenger platform, especially with its latest announcement at F8.

However, the recent development seems to be the first step towards an integration of these two platforms to maintain a growth track and dominate the messaging market. A report suggested that both companies are already investing their time in building a deeper integration which will include the ability to send a message between Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.