Airtel Nigeria has announced a new package that will allow its subscribers to access the mobile multimedia chat app WhatsApp for just NGN100 (less than US$1) per month.
The telecommunications network announced it via a tweet on its official Twitter handle, @AirtelNigeria.
Dial *948# to get unlimited access to WhatsAppfor just N100/month.Chat with your friends all day, share those memorable pictures & videos
— Airtel Nigeria (@AirtelNigeria) March 26, 2013
Nigerians have also taken to social media to voice their opinion on the new offer. On Nairaland, several members expressed their excitement with the offer from Airtel.
Seunlayi, who said he does not use WhatsApp, expressed his satisfaction..
He wrote: “i have started considering getting another Airtel sim after i have lost my last 3 Airtel’s SIMs. You guys dey make sense die-die. Although I don’t Whatapp [SIC].”
Zuby77, a WhatsApp user, however asked why the network is charging NGN100 monthly for a free app.
Another user, Dr. Muzungu replied: “WhatsApp is free application, as in free to download, install and use. However, it transmits data over the internet connection. There, the provider (in this case Airtel) can control what applications use the internet. In this particular case, if you subscribe for the general internet use, you pay a lot more, and if you subscribe for WhatsApp only, you pay N100 per month for the data transfers, not for the application itself.”
Since its debut in Nigeria, WhatsApp has become one of the most widely used mobile chat apps that allow people to connect.
It has an interface that resembles BlackBerry chat platforms and is available on a wider range of devices.
