[ivanplenty]

> start charging you after a year

Really? Oh, wait... http://www.whatsapp.com/faq/general/23014681

As an American who only heard of TenCent late in 2013, I also did not know that WhatsApp was a subscription service. Holy batman that feels either evil or genius.

Makes sense why the app asked for my cell phone digits when I first installed, and I'm happy I never gave it...

[shawabawa3]

I was really happy when they charged me, means I knew they weren't planning on selling out or spewing ads everywhere.

I definitely get more than 69p of value out of it per year

> Makes sense why the app asked for my cell phone digits when I first installed, and I'm happy I never gave it...

How does this have anything to do with the fee? The phone number is essentially your username. It automatically adds all the phone numbers in your address book as whatsapp contacts

edit: It's also not a subscription in that it never charges you automatically, you have to pay manually every time

[lucb1e]

> I was really happy when they charged me

Wow, that is a brilliant comment I can only agree with. I disliked Whatsapp for doing this (even though it's not even sneaky, nobody knows it), but yeah you are totally right. I am usually the first one to propose "I'd rather pay than see annoying ads."