Mobile operator Cell C has announced that it will offer free access to WhatsApp, the popular instant-messaging service, to its contract customers as well as some prepaid clients on a promotional basis.
Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos describes the move as being part of a need by mobile carriers to embrace rather than fight so-called over-the-top (OTT) players.
“WhatsApp is one of the most popular OTT services on our network,” Dos Santos said in a statement. He said instant-messaging services, social media and voice-over-Internet protocol tools are the future of mobile communications.
The free access to WhatsApp will kick in from 19 October and will be free to all existing and new contract customers automatically. It will also be available to prepaid customers on the MegaBonus plan.
Users will be able to send pictures, voice messages, videos and text messages via WhatsApp without being billed for data. The promotion will run at least until the festive season.
Dos Santos said Cell C has “much more planned in the social media space”. — © 2014 NewsCentral Media