How to DVR programs using YouTube TV

Ensuring you never miss another episode only takes a few taps.

Managing to catch all of your favorite television shows can be a hassle. Between family obligations, nights out, late evenings at work, and the small catastrophes that show up unannounced, managing to sit down at the same time each week to watch your favorite programs can be nigh impossible. Thankfully with YouTube TV you can avoid that by setting up a DVR that will record your program, so that you can watch it when — and where — you want to.

Using the DVR on YouTube TV is pretty easy to do, and we have the details for you here!

• How to DVR a program
• How to view programs you have recorded
• How to view scheduled recordings
• How to remove scheduled recordings

How to DVR a program

With YouTube TV you can easily set up a DVR to record all upcoming instances of your favorite show. However, when you set up a recording, it will automatically record every upcoming episode — including reruns — until you remove the program from your DVR list.

Open YouTube TV on your phone.

Tap the search icon in the upper right corner.

Type to search for the show you want to record.
Tap to select the show.
Tap the plus icon to add to your DVR list.

How to view programs you have recorded

After you have recorded programs using the DVR feature, you’re able to view them through the app. You can watch your recordings at your own leisure, and they’ll stay in your library until they expire, or you delete them.

Open YouTube TV on your phone.
Tap Library at the bottom left of your screen.
View your recent recordings at the bottom of the screen.

How to view scheduled recordings

If you’re unsure if you’ve got all of your favorite shows set up to record, it’s easy to check. The Scheduled recordings tab will show everything you have opted to record, letting you keep track nearly effortlessly.

Open YouTube TV.
Tap Library at the bottom left of the screen.
Tap Scheduled Recordings.

How to remove scheduled recordings

Sometimes you get tired of a show, or you just don’t want to watch t anymore for a variety of different reasons. If it’s a show that you had set up to record, then you’ll want to remove the recording so that it isn’t cluttering up your app.

Open YouTube TV.
Tap Library.

Tap Shows.

Tap the show you want to stop recording.
Tap the stop icon to the right of the show title.

Tap the minus icon to remove the show from your library.

Questions?

Do you still have questions about using the DVR to record programs on YouTube TV? Have you been recording your favorite shows? Let us know about it in the comments!

Aftershokz Trekz Titanium review: Wireless headphones you can wear everwhere

The Aftershokz Titanium headphones are excellent for workouts and let you hear your surroundings.

While I’ve been quick to lament the disappearance of the 3.5mm headphone jack from some smartphones, I converted to Bluetooth audio a few years ago with my first pair of Jaybird Bluebuds X. Charging them every few days was inconvenient, but it was well worth it to have a wireless pair of headphones for running or weight lifting.

Before this, I had an incident where my headphone wire getting caught on a tree branch, painfully ripping the earbuds out of my ear. It happened only once, but that was once more than I would have wanted.

Flash forward a few years, and it’s easier than ever to get a good pair of Bluetooth headphones without spending a lot of money. Whether your preference is toward in-ear, on-ear or over-ear, it’s really easy to find something without spending nearly as much as you would on higher end brands.

But the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium wireless headphones are different — in a good way. Let’s see why, and whether they’re worth your time.

See at Amazon

Why I went for the bone (conduction)

Bone conduction is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

A couple of months ago, I decided to start riding a bicycle in hopes of living past the age of fifty. This presented a unique problem: I could skip listening to music while riding my bike and hate the experience; I could listen to music with my earbuds and obstruct the noises of traffic; or I could use my Sony MDR-1000X headphones, which have a cool feature where they pipe in surrounding noise.

The problem with the second option is obvious: if I can’t hear surrounding traffic while I ride my bike, I could very easily end up dead. The third option is safer, but still less than ideal because the over-ear design of the headphones would keep sweat trapped around my ears and make the headphones themselves disgusting.

With that, I decided to try a pair of bone conduction headphones, which work by placing the headphone drivers outside just outside of your ears, with the contact points of the headphones remaining in place just outside the ear canal. The contact points cause vibrations to move down your cheekbone, transmitting sound to the brain.

There’s a much more in depth explanation here, but long story short is you’ll be able to hear your music while also hearing everything from your surroundings, since your ear canals are completely unobstructed. Because of this, they are much safer to use for bikers and anyone else listening to music in a high traffic setting.

I’ve been using the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones for about a month and a half now, for at least an hour per day. The headphones come included with a m=Micro-USB cable for charging, ear plugs for those that work in high volume areas like construction zones, and a storage bag that I have not seen since opening the box for the first time. Unlike traditional earbuds, the fit on the Trekz Titanium can’t be adjusted whatsoever. I was lucky in that they fit me perfectly, but I can’t universally recommend the headphones because they just won’t fit everyone — it’s important to do your research beforehand.

First impressions — knocking me on my ass

The headphones paired without issue, and I began listening to music. And by “listening to music,” I mean I had to sit down immediately from the assault on my head. The first song I listened to after putting on the headphones was Come to Me by Lily and Madeleine, and while that song isn’t particularly bass-heavy, the notes were still strong enough to knock me on my ass at full volume.

Once I got the volume down to a dull roar, I adjusted quickly to the unique way the headphones transmit sound into my ears. I spent two or so hours trying different genres to find out how each song would feel on my ears. Then it came time for the ultimate test: wearing the headphones while bike riding. Again, I was super fortunate in that the headphones fit underneath my helmet without any issues. With my phone kept in my backpack for the bike ride, I never experienced any connection issues or interference. Nor did I have any issues in a crowded gym full of other people and their Bluetooth devices.

With these headphones, I could comfortably hear my music while also hearing all nearby traffic, from quiet cars to emergency sirens.

Before taking off on my first bike ride with the headphones, I played with the volume a bit to find out what the best level would be. At higher volumes, it is absolutely possible for the headphones to drown out any surrounding noise, negating the benefits of this design. At low-medium volumes, I was able to comfortably hear my music while also hearing all nearby traffic. I could hear cars approaching to pass me, or sirens from emergency vehicles. It sounds trivial, but the open design of these headphones really improved my bike riding experience.

Using them in the real world

Besides bicycle riding, there are a few other environments where the open design really shines. Being able to hear nearby people in the gym is nice, so I don’t feel like a jerk for ignoring people who ask if I’m almost done with a weight bench. It’s also good for people like me who always looks and listens for someone who may be injured. The headphones were also fantastic to use while I was moving, since I was able to hear my neighbors while I was loading my U-Haul van. I also used them for the drive itself, since my rental van didn’t have an aux port. Again, I was able to hear car horns and sirens without a problem. Finally, while I don’t do this myself, the headphones would also be fantastic for an office environment so one could hear their music and coworkers at the same time.

There are some usability issues, but they don’t outweigh the benefits of these headphones.

Two areas I’d like to see future versions improve would be battery life and the controls. The headphones are advertised with six hours of battery life, which is approximately what I get. Not bad, but not great. I also wish there was some sort of battery level announcement. Instead, the headphones give one low battery warning, and five minutes later they power down.

The volume controls are difficult to get to, since they rest on the bottom right arm of the headphones. The play/pause/skip/answer phone calls/hang up phone calls button is located on the left “earbud,” and I’m not proud of how many times I held it down thinking it was the power button. Instead, the power functions are triggered by holding down the volume up button. Not the hardest thing to adjust to, but certainly different from any other headphone I’ve used.

At the end of the day, the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones are a very specific product for a very specific user. Battery and control issues aside, these headphones are phenominal for me. I still can’t universally recommend them because of the distinct way they fit onto a head, but they’re worth trying at the very least. The slate grey version I’ve been using retails for $99.99, which is a fair price in my mind. There are also blue, green and pink options for a little bit more money. For those that don’t mind using a wire and want to save a bit of money, there is a wired version for $40 less.

See at Amazon

The Morning After: Wednesday, September 6th 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

It’s time to find out how the Galaxy Note 8 matches up, and to take a look at Google’s new Street View cameras. Congratulations, it’s already Wednesday.

Its best big phone yet isn’t a huge leap forward.Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review: excellent, but still a tough sell

With its exceptional screen, solid performance and an improved S Pen, it’s no surprise that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is its best big phone ever. It also doesn’t hurt that it has one of the best dual camera setups we’ve ever seen. The problem is Samsung’s second-biggest phone, the Galaxy S8 Plus, is nearly as good, and merely lacks the gimmicks that make the Note 8 more expensive. If you’ve always wanted to sketch or write on a phone, the Galaxy Note 8 is exactly what you’ve been looking for. For the vast majority of people, though, the Note 8 remains a tough sell.

The Mi A1 is the priciest budget handset to make it on to Google’s program.Google taps Xiaomi for its most powerful Android One phone

You’d be forgiven for thinking Android One was dead and gone. Google’s initiative to bring stock Android to emerging nations through cheap, local handsets roared to life in 2014. By 2015, however, it was already being rebooted, with the tech giant promising to further lower prices. That same year, it arrived in Africa, and is currently available in Japan, Turkey and the Netherlands, among other regions. Now, Android One is getting fitted with upgraded hardware, courtesy of Xiaomi. The Mi A1 handset was just announced in India and will cost $234 — significantly more than the $50 Android One phones we’re used to.

Let’s try that one again.‘Destiny 2’ gives Bungie’s online shooter the narrative it deserves

The second Destiny game is finally available, and if you haven’t already dived in with your clan (or are just waiting for a free moment), Sean Buckley is ready with impressions of its campaign. Even though we don’t have much to go on for the game’s other content, like strikes and raids, at least this time around the storytelling isn’t left to confusing Grimoire cards. By showing rather than telling what’s going on, Destiny 2 “is a space opera that makes full use of the interactive medium of gaming.”

Bring some Icy Hot.Inside the Essential phone

Now that the Essential PH-1 is available, naturally the crew at iFixit has taken time to tear one apart. Unfortunately, that minimalist, big-screen design makes for a phone that’s tough to pry open and cuts down many avenues for potential repair by end users. Of course, if you just want to take a peek inside you can do that right here.

Expect them to be everywhere soon.Truly wireless earbuds for your headphones are coming

The slow (and contentious) demise of the smartphone’s headphone jack is prompting a wave of interest in wireless audio. And as consumers are gently encouraged to ditch the wire connecting them to their phones, they might as well abandon the ones found in traditional Bluetooth headphones, too. At IFA, the truly wireless revolution kickstarted by Bragi and embraced by Samsung and Apple is now a bandwagon that everyone is jumping on.

Fitbit and Adidas are just the latest addition.Sports brands are giving wearables another shot at success

Companies making health-focused products, like smartwatches, fitness bands and even hybrids of these two, are starting to realize that their products live and die by the apps and features offered. But to have applications that lure people to your platform, whether you’re Apple, Samsung or Fitbit, often it’s better if you have a hand in developing them. That’s why, especially at IFA 2017, many tech firms are teaming up with brands from different industries to add a new element of usefulness to their wearables. In some cases, that includes special-edition products created between two companies.

Take your time.Microsoft extends the free Windows 10 S upgrade period through March

If you’re thinking about buying a Surface Laptop, you now have three extra months to decide between Windows 10 S and regular Windows 10. Microsoft previously said owners had until the end of the year to upgrade its Windows Store apps-only setup for free, but now it’s extending the free upgrade period to March 2018. After that, if you decide it’s too restrictive then switching will cost $49.

Now in HD.Google’s new Street View cameras help map the real world

For the first time in eight years, Google has revamped its Street View camera rigs. As Wired found out, the new hardware captures high-res images that will suck up more data about the world for the company’s algorithms.

But wait, there’s more…

• ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ loses director Colin Trevorrow
• Lenovo will pay a $3.5 million fine for pre-installing ‘Superfish’ adware
• Plex for Kodi is now free for everyone
• Nike can make a pair of custom shoes in under an hour (if you have an invite)

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

Intel escapes €1.06bn antitrust fine… for the time being

The highest court in the European Union has ordered a €1.06 billion ($1.4 billion) antitrust fine against Intel be re-examined, heralding a victory for other technology companies currently facing similar investigations from Europe. In 2009, the European Commission found that Intel had “harmed” its rivals by giving incentives to computer makers Dell, Lenovo and HP for using its microprocessor chips instead of those from rival AMD. Intel appealed, but the fine was upheld in 2014.

Now, the ruling from the Court Justice of the European Union (ECJ) will see the case sent back to a lower court, with the ECJ claiming the original court had not properly considered the “efficient competitor test”, a technical assessment of how Intel’s activity impacted on a rival’s ability to compete against it. The verdict means Intel has escaped the original fine for now, although the case could drag on for many more years.

The initial penalty, which represented around 4.15 percent of Intel’s 2008 revenues, was record-breaking at the time, but has recently been overtaken by a €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) penalty against Google in June. In a case similar to Intel’s, Google was accused of abusing the dominance of its search engine to promote its own services at the expense of rivals. It’s not clear yet if the ECJ’s decision will have any impact on this case, or indeed any cases going forward, but it nonetheless represents a victory for American technology companies which claim they are unfairly targeted by European antitrust regulators.

Via: NY Times

Source: Court of Justice of the European Union

The Trainline is using big data to predict when ticket prices rise

Just like flights, hotels and Uber rides, train ticket prices rise when rail operators anticipate there will be increased demand for their services. It often leaves passengers scrambling to find a combination of tickets that won’t break the bank, even when they’re booking weeks before they travel. Train companies obviously want to protect profits by keeping their pricing structures a secret, but independent ticket retailer The Trainline believes it can now accurately predict when things will start to get expensive.

Appearing in The Trainline app from today, the Price Prediction tool uses the company’s “billions of data points” to suggest when ticket prices will rise. When a user performs a search for a specific route, the app will list the cheapest price, indicate when the route could sell out and then list incremental price changes depending on the date of booking.

“Our data scientists have used historical pricing trends from billions of customer journey searches to predict when the price of an Advance ticket will expire. We now share this information in our app to allow our customers to get the best price possible for their journey,” Jon Moore, Chief Product Officer at Trainline said. “We’re introducing more advanced machine learning every day so naturally our predictions will get increasingly accurate. Our mission is to make train travel as simple as possible and price prediction is the first in a long line of predictive features we have planned to help customers save time and money.”

To demonstrate its tool, the company took an Advance single fare between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly. If booked 80 days before the day of travel, that ticket will cost £32, rising to £38 at 41 days before. Wait until 13 days before and the price rises again to £42, then more than doubles 48 hours beforehand. On the day, that 160 mile journey will cost a whopping £126.

The feature isn’t particularly groundbreaking, lots of companies provide similar tools for travel and accommodation all over the world. However, The Trainline is the UK’s biggest independent ticket retailer and processes 125,000 customer journeys across Europe every day, meaning it has a better understanding of the nation’s train travel habits than most.

Booking months in advance will always deliver the most value, but if you’re umming and ahhing over whether to book that ticket, the company’s new tool could provide some further clarity on the situation.

Source: Trainline (App Store), (Google Play)

Taking ‘upskirt’ photos isn’t technically illegal, but it soon could be

This is a baffling one. You’d think that laws governing sexual offenses or rights to privacy or something would make it very obviously illegal to point a camera lens up a woman’s skirt and snap a pic without their consent. But as it stands, anyone can do this without too much fear of punishment, at least in England and Wales. (Scotland included a specific voyeurism offence covering activities such as “upskirting” and “downblousing” in its Sexual Offences Act 2009.) Justice Secretary David Lidington told MPs yesterday he was taking legal advice on the matter, effectively preempting a potential, formal change to legislation to make upskirting illegal.

Lidington’s comments are in response to an online petition requesting upskirting be made a specific offence, which at time of writing has almost 64,000 signatures. The petition was started by Gina Martin, who was recently a victim of upskirting at a music festival in London’s Hyde Park. Despite having evidence of the photos and speaking to police, nobody was prosecuted as the images weren’t considered graphic.

People have been convicted under similar circumstances in the past, but therein lies the problem: The interpretation of the law isn’t consistent. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, applicable to England and Wales, does include a voyeurism offence. However, it’s primarily concerned with people watching or documenting a “private act” without consent.

“I have asked for detailed advice on this. Before proceeding to a commitment to new legislation, I want to be absolutely certain that this would be the right course to take,” Lidington said yesterday. His comments are kind of understandable. Changing the law is complicated and all consequences need to be considered. But given we all carry cameras around in our pockets these days, it’s surprising upskirting hasn’t been named as a specific offence before now, or at least prosecuted consistently on the basis it’s just common sense that the practice is a serious violation.

Via: The Times, Care2 Petitions

Logitech Resurrects the Trackball Device With the Wireless MX ERGO

Logitech resurrected the trackball device today with its announcement of the MX ERGO, which the company is calling its “first new innovative trackball in nearly a decade”.

Pitched to consumers looking for alternatives to mice and touchpads, the Bluetooth-based MX ERGO features an adjustable metal hinge with angle options at either zero or 20 degrees for personalizing the comfort level, which improves wrist posture and pronation, according to Logitech.

“We are so excited by this new trackball. It is back, better than ever and the idea for this trackball innovation was inspired by our users, who invented creative ways to achieve their desired level of comfort, sometimes adding additional wedges under their trackball for elevated angles,” said Anatoliy Polyanker, global portfolio and brand director at Logitech. “The MX ERGO is our first adjustable trackball that delivers on the need for elevated comfort in a beautiful design.”

The sculpted shape is designed to offer full palm and finger support, with a soft rubber on top for a comfortable grip over many hours of work. An LED light indicates when “precision mode” is activated using the dedicated button on the side of the MX ERGO. This special mode is said to allow the user to instantly change cursor speed and accuracy.

The device also supports multi-device connectivity through Logitech’s Easy-Switch and Logitech Flow software, which allows users to seamlessly switch between two computers with one mouse, as well as copy and paste content, images and documents between them.

The rechargeable battery lasts up to four months on a full charge, depending on usage, and Logitech reckons the MX ERGO can give a complete day of work with just one minute of charge if the device is low on power.

The Logitech MX ERGO is priced at $99.99 and should be available to buy on the Logitech website and select retail stores throughout the U.S. in September.

Tag: Logitech
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Kobo eBooks Subscription Service Adds AudioBook Catalog to its iOS App

Canadian ebook giant Rakuten Kobo today added audiobooks to its iOS app catalog, rolling out the change in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand via an update.

Kobo customers can buy audiobooks on an individual basis, or through the company’s $10 per month subscription service, which gets users one book each month. The same monthly subscription costs $13 in Canada, £6.99 in the U.K, $13 in Australia, and $14 in New Zealand.

Alternatively, it’s possible to buy a three-pack credit and store up to 24 credits in a subscription account. A 30-day free trial is also on offer for users to see how the system works before they commit.

Once an audiobook is purchased, customers can make use of the app’s built-in audiobook player, which includes options to change the narration speed, check the time remaining, and set a sleep timer.

The Kobo ebooks and audiobooks app is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Audiobooks
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How to Factory Reset an iPhone 7 and Every Generation

A clean slate can work wonders in life, especially when it comes to the numerous gadgets and gizmos we use on a daily basis, like the iPhone. Although performing a factory reset of your smartphone may not sound ideal — it essentially wipes your device of any and all personal settings and data you’ve acquired through the years — it’s occasionally necessary when troubleshooting your device for software errors. As we’ve shown you in our troubleshooting guide, there are many steps you can take to fix problems with your iPhone even if a factory reset doesn’t fix your issue.

Although it may seem a daunting process, restoring any iPhone to its original factory settings, whether it’s an iPhone 7 Plus or an iPhone 5SE, is a simple a process that requires little more than your phone and five minutes of your time. Once completed, you’ll notice that all of your phone’s data and content — songs, videos, contacts, photos, calendar info, etc.– have been deleted, thus safeguarding your personal information and preventing it from falling into the wrong hands should you sell your device.

Scroll down for our quick guide on how to factory reset an iPhone, so you can ditch the data before passing on your device. The exact process for doing so may vary slightly depending on which version of iOS your iPhone is running, but it’s essentially the same regardless if you’re performing a factory reset using iTunes or your untethered phone. Furthermore, feel free to follow the same directions when performing a factory reset on any of your iOS devices.

How to factory reset an iPhone using iCloud

Whether you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, an iPhone SE, an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, or an older model, like the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, or 5S, the easiest way to factory reset your iPhone is to use iCloud.

Step 1: Prepare your iPhone for restoration

If you have iOS 10.3 or later, go into your iPhone Settings menu — Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, or go to Settings > iCloud for an older version of iOS — and turn on the items you’d like to back up. We recommend you choose to back up almost everything, but especially your Photos, Mail, Contacts, and Notes. Once you have chosen what you would like to back up (and keep in mind that anything you do not back up will be lost forever once you perform the reset), scroll down until you find the Backup button with the green icon. Click it and turn on iCloud Backup with the toggle switch. Then, if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you will be able to Back up now. Keep in mind that it will take a few minutes.

For more detailed instructions, check out our guide on how to use iCloud to back up your iPhone.

Alternatively, you can also still rely on a PC a little bit. Connect your iPhone to your computer via USB and click the gray Back Up Now button when viewing the Summary tab for your given device in iTunes.

Step 2: Access the Reset menu

Tap the main Settings icon when viewing the home screen, select General from the resulting menu, and tap the Reset button at the bottom of the resulting page.

Step 3: Reset your iPhone  

Tap the blue Erase All Content and Settings option near the top, followed by the red Erase iPhone option in the resulting pop-up window to confirm your decision.

Step 4: Restore your iPhone

Once the reset process is complete — a process that may take up to several minutes — check to ensure your phone has been restored to its original factory settings. If done correctly, you’ll once again be presented with the iOS Setup Assistant upon startup, from which you can then restore your phone from a backup or continue the process as if you were setting it up anew.

You’ll have to log in and set up your iPhone from scratch once it has been factory reset. The prompts will ask you whether you want to restore from your iCloud account, set up a completely fresh phone without any of your previous settings, or use iTunes and a PC to put your old content onto the phone again.

If you’re interested in what all the iPhone Reset options mean, then skip to the last page of this article. If you want to perform a factory reset using iTunes, read on.

How to factory reset an iPhone using iTunes (the old way)

Performing a factory reset on an iPhone — whether it’s a 4S or an iPhone 7 — is easier when you use iCloud and reset directly from the device, but you can still use Apple’s aging iTunes with a PC. This is useful if you have traditionally used this method and are a longtime iPhone owner.

Step 1: Prepare your iPhone for restoration

First, launch iTunes as you would normally. If you’re on a Mac, click the iTunes menu located on the left side of the main toolbar, and if you’re on Windows, click the Help menu on the right. Select Check for Updates from the resulting drop-down menu, and ensure you have the latest version of iTunes. If not, download and install the latest version. Afterward, connect your iPhone to your computer via USB and click the gray Back Up Now button when viewing the Summary tab for your given device. Alternatively, follow our guide on how to use iCloud to back up the device to Apple’s remote servers. Although backing up your device is not necessary, doing so will store your photos, apps, contacts, settings, and other data so you can automatically restore other iOS devices from the backup down the line.

If you’re using an iPhone 4S or a newer device, you might also want to disable Find My iPhone. To do so, tap the main Settings icon when viewing the home screen, select iCloud, and tap Find My iPhone. Then, toggle the slider at the top to disable the feature if you haven’t done so already.

Step 2: Restore your iPhone

Once the backup is complete, click the gray Restore iPhone button when viewing the Summary tab for your given device. Click the Restore button in the resulting pop-up window to confirm your decision, and if prompted, click Agree to accept the software license agreement and begin downloading the necessary iOS software file before restoring.

Step 3: Ensure the phone was restored

Once the restoration process is complete — a process that may take up to several minutes — check to ensure your phone has been restored to its original factory settings. If done correctly, you’ll once again be presented with the iOS Setup Assistant upon startup, from which you can then restore your phone from a backup or continue the process as if you were setting it up anew. It’s like it just came off the assembly line in China all over again.

WhatsApp is building a dedicated app just for businesses

WhatsApp wants to connect businesses with customers.

WhatsApp started rolling out verified business accounts last week, and the comapny is now detailing its monetization plans. WhatsApp will offer a Business app that makes it easier for businesses to respond to messages, share updates, and more. WhatsApp basically wants to be the app you turn to when you want to place an order with a local bakery or get flight updates from your airline.

As for monetization, WhatsApp will provide its Business app to small-to-medium businesses for free, but will also roll out an “enterprise solution” for bigger companies with a global footprint, like banks, airlines, and e-commerce sites. The latter will be the main source of revenue for the messaging service. From the WhatsApp blog:

Our approach is simple – we want to apply what we’ve learned helping people connect with each other to helping people connect with businesses that are important to them.

We know businesses have many different needs. For example, they want an official presence – a verified profile so people can identify a business from another person – and an easier way to respond to messages. We’re building and testing new tools via a free WhatsApp Business app for small companies and an enterprise solution for bigger companies operating at a large scale with a global base of customers, like airlines, e-commerce sites, and banks.

These businesses will be able to use our solutions to provide customers with useful notifications like flight times, delivery confirmations, and other updates.

We’ll be listening carefully to feedback during our test phase and keeping people informed as we make these tools more widely available. It’s important that we get this right and are thoughtful about the new experiences we’ll provide for businesses and our users.

There’s a lot of potential for a service like this in countries like India, where WhatsApp usage is ubiquitous. Over 200 million users — or a fifth of WhatsApp’s global userbase — is from India, and the messaging platform is already being used by hundreds of local businesses to interact with their customers.

A ticket booking platform like BookMyShow can now leverage the business features to provide its customers with information on upcoming movies and events, and services like Ola and Uber can use WhatsApp to deliver OTPs.