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Meta's $900 mn Cred bet fuels hopes of turning WhatsApp into a super-app

The global tech firm announced this week that it will own 20% of Bengaluru-based Cred, which rewards people who pay their credit-card bills on time

Meta's $900 mn Cred bet fuels hopes of turning WhatsApp into a super-app
Updated On : 24 Jun 2026 | 9:44 AM IST

Meta's Cox sought Kunal Shah's advice on WhatsApp, then made him leader

Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox reached out to Shah directly in the spring, seeking advice on picking the future leader of WhatsApp

Meta's Cox sought Kunal Shah's advice on WhatsApp, then made him leader
Updated On : 24 Jun 2026 | 8:13 AM IST

Will Kunal Shah be able to deliver on Meta's goal to monetise WhatsApp?

Shah has a portfolio of about 298 companies, focusing primarily on sectors such as consumer tech, fintech, SaaS, climate tech, AI and edtech

Will Kunal Shah be able to deliver on Meta's goal to monetise WhatsApp?
Updated On : 23 Jun 2026 | 10:44 PM IST

From chats to commerce: Why India is WhatsApp's most important market

With hundreds of millions of users, millions of businesses and a rapidly growing digital economy, India has become the most important market for WhatsApp

From chats to commerce: Why India is WhatsApp's most important market
Updated On : 23 Jun 2026 | 4:23 PM IST

WhatsApp's journey: From status app to world's default messaging service

With Cred founder Kunal Shah set to lead WhatsApp globally, here's a look at the evolution of the app that transformed digital communication and largely replaced SMS across the world

WhatsApp's journey: From status app to world's default messaging service
Updated On : 23 Jun 2026 | 4:15 PM IST

Kunal Shah named WhatsApp CEO: A look at Indian biz leaders at global firms

Kunal Shah's appointment to WhatsApp adds to a growing list of Indian business leaders who built careers in India before rising to top roles at global firms

Kunal Shah named WhatsApp CEO: A look at Indian biz leaders at global firms
Updated On : 23 Jun 2026 | 2:43 PM IST

WhatsApp to invest $900 mn in Kunal Shah's CRED: What does the app do?

The platform operates a members-only financial rewards programme that targets users with high credit scores and offers them rewards and discounts

WhatsApp to invest $900 mn in Kunal Shah's CRED: What does the app do?
Updated On : 23 Jun 2026 | 2:31 PM IST

Meet Kunal Shah, the CRED founder set to become WhatsApp's global head

Shah will succeed Will Cathcart, who has led WhatsApp since 2019. Cathcart will move to a newly created division within Meta focused on building next-generation products

Meet Kunal Shah, the CRED founder set to become WhatsApp's global head
Updated On : 23 Jun 2026 | 9:55 AM IST

Meta invests $900 mn in Cred, Kunal Shah to head WhatsApp globally

Meta acquires a minority stake in Cred through a $900 million investment and appoints founder Kunal Shah as global head of WhatsApp

Meta invests $900 mn in Cred, Kunal Shah to head WhatsApp globally
Updated On : 22 Jun 2026 | 11:42 PM IST

Meta taps Kunal Shah to head WhatsApp as part of $900 mn Cred investment

The investment gives Meta a roughly 20 per cent stake in Cred, which operates an app that rewards customers for paying their credit card bills on time

Meta taps Kunal Shah to head WhatsApp as part of $900 mn Cred investment
Updated On : 22 Jun 2026 | 7:05 PM IST

Telegram under scrutiny again: What makes it different from messaging apps

A temporary restriction by Indian government, linked to NEET-UG, has renewed scrutiny of Telegram and its unusual evolution from a messaging app into a broadcasting and content-sharing platform

Telegram under scrutiny again: What makes it different from messaging apps
Updated On : 17 Jun 2026 | 3:55 PM IST

Meta launches paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp: Here's what you'll get

Meta is rolling out paid “Plus” subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, offering added customisation, analytics and engagement tools. Alongside this, Meta is also testing “Meta One”

Icon YoutubeMeta launches paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp: Here's what you'll get
Updated On : 15 Jun 2026 | 7:04 PM IST

EU orders Meta to restore WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots

European Union regulators on Tuesday ordered Meta Platforms to restore access to WhatsApp for rival AI chatbot makers until its antitrust investigation is complete. The bloc's executive Commission, which is the 27-nation EU's top antitrust and competition enforcer, said it was taking action to prevent harm to competition in the growing market for AI assistants before it's too late. The commission said it was imposing "interim measures" while it continues its investigation into WhatsApp's artificial intelligence policy over concerns the company is breaching EU law by blocking competitors from offering their AI assistants on the platform. Meta said it would appeal. "The European Commission has decided that OpenAI and some of the largest companies in the world can use the paid-for WhatsApp Business product for free," the company said in a statement. "This is regulatory overreach subsidised by the many European companies that pay." Brussels has been resorting to temporary orders after

EU orders Meta to restore WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots
Updated On : 09 Jun 2026 | 9:51 PM IST

WhatsApp for mobile may get a logout option without deleting chats: Report

WhatsApp is testing a native logout option that allows users to sign out without uninstalling the app or deleting the account, while preserving chats, settings and login information

WhatsApp for mobile may get a logout option without deleting chats: Report
Updated On : 01 Jun 2026 | 3:14 PM IST

Meta brings incognito chat mode to WhatsApp, Meta AI app: How it works

Meta is bringing a new Incognito Chat feature to WhatsApp and the Meta AI app, promising temporary AI chats that even the company cannot access

Meta brings incognito chat mode to WhatsApp, Meta AI app: How it works
Updated On : 14 May 2026 | 10:59 AM IST

WhatsApp rolls out 'Plus' subscription plan on Android, iOS: Check features

WhatsApp has started rolling out WhatsApp Plus to select users, adding custom themes, app icons, premium stickers, extra pinned chats, and personalised ringtone options

WhatsApp rolls out 'Plus' subscription plan on Android, iOS: Check features
Updated On : 12 May 2026 | 1:11 PM IST

Soon, you can customise chat themes on WhatsApp Web client: What's new

WhatsApp is reportedly testing chat themes for its web client, allowing users to customise wallpapers, message bubbles, and chat colours directly from browsers

Soon, you can customise chat themes on WhatsApp Web client: What's new
Updated On : 11 May 2026 | 1:04 PM IST

WhatsApp security flaws could expose devices to attacks, warns Cert-In

Cert-In has warned WhatsApp users about multiple security flaws that could allow attackers to execute malicious code and gain unauthorised access on affected devices

WhatsApp security flaws could expose devices to attacks, warns Cert-In
Updated On : 07 May 2026 | 4:22 PM IST

WhatsApp may adopt Apple's Liquid Glass UI for chats on iOS: What to expect

WhatsApp is testing a translucent 'Liquid Glass' chat interface for iPhone, aligning with Apple's iOS design language, though the feature remains in beta and is yet to roll out widely

WhatsApp may adopt Apple's Liquid Glass UI for chats on iOS: What to expect
Updated On : 04 May 2026 | 12:16 PM IST

US ends probe into claims WhatsApp chats were reportedly not private

Through much of 2025, the special agent had been looking into claims that some Meta employees and contractors could see the content of encrypted WhatsApp messages

US ends probe into claims WhatsApp chats were reportedly not private
Updated On : 29 Apr 2026 | 12:21 AM IST