WhatsApp is an instant messaging app for smartphones that operates under a subscription business model. The proprietary,cross-platform app uses the Internet to send text messages, images, video, user location and audio media messages.^[2][3]

In January 2015, WhatsApp was the most globally popular messaging app with more than 700 million active users,^[4] with India alone having a user base of more than 70 million.

WhatsApp Inc., based in Mountain View, California, was acquired by Facebook on February 19, 2014, for approx. US$19 billion.^[5][6]