>>I know that a percentage of WhatsApp users would stop using the app if they started requiring a payment again Most of their users come from countries like In

>>I know that a percentage of WhatsApp users would stop using the app if they started requiring a payment again Most of their users come from countries like India(Im an Indian). Where people are very price conscious. And yes they would move on to other free services if charged. >>because apparently paying $1 per year for using an application on your $999 phone is outrageous Most smartphones on which people use WhatsApp in India are less than $100 phones. These days you get good usable smartphones in India for around $50 as well. >>but I wonder why can't they just make it an option again as an alternative to ads. Because bandwidth costs money. Best way out of WhatsApp is to ship their app with the phone and have the manufactures charge $1 * avg life of the phone.