WhatsApp is one of those few Facebook owned apps which does not offer advertisements. However, at the Facebook Marketing Summit in Rotterdam, Facebook announced it will bring advertisements to WhatsApp stories starting from 2020.
Olivier Ponteville, the head of media at Be Connect Agency who attended the summit, tweeted about the announcement.
The stories feature on WhatsApp is similar to that of Instagram and Snapchat, where one can post photos and videos which will disappear after 24 hours. From 2020, targeted advertisements will be brought into this feature.
This was speculated back in November 2018, when the Vice President of WhatsApp, Chris Daniels stated, the Company would show ads in the status and stories feature and as a result, these ads would become the Company’s primary mode of monetisation.
At the same summit, Facebook announced it is also testing a bunch of other features for WhatsApp. Some of these featured include a shortcut for QR code, richer message formats for Whatsapp Business and it will also let users crosspost stories to Facebook.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will soon allow its users to share their statuses and stories to Facebook stories. This feature will apparently allow users to share videos, images, text statuses and GIFs on Facebook through WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is also testing a QR code feature for the app which will be added to the profile section. This will make it easier for users to add contacts by scanning their QR code or share their codes with someone else.
For security reasons, users will also be able to replace their QR code with a new one from time to time.
Some improvements to WhatsApp Business will also be made. Its users will witness richer text formats and will also be able to link PDFs and image files to e commerce websites.
Now, it will be interesting to see how all these features will be received by users and how beneficial they can be to the Company, business wise.
All these features are expected to be implemented by 2020.
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service
Nazara Technologies has sold its entire 71.54% stake in Sports Unity Private Limited, the company behind the multiplayer quiz game ‘Qunami’, for INR 7.15 lakh. This divestment, effective March 25, 2025, signifies a strategic shift for Nazara, which had previously acquired a controlling interest in Sports Unity in 2019 for INR 7.5 crore.
The decision to offload the stake comes as Sports Unity has faced financial difficulties, reporting no active business operations and a negative net worth of INR 0.45 crore at the end of FY24. This move aligns with Nazara’s broader strategy to streamline its operations and concentrate on more profitable ventures within the gaming sector.
This sale follows Nazara’s recent divestment of a 94.85% stake in another subsidiary, Open Play, to Moonshine Technologies for INR 104.33 crore. Despite reporting record quarterly revenue of INR 544.7 crore in Q3 FY25, Nazara experienced a 53.5% decline in net profit year-over-year.
Nazara continues to focus on enhancing its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and investments in high-potential gaming platforms while navigating the competitive landscape of the gaming industry.