Whatsapp and the NO-chatbots regulation
Hi Alfred! Interesting experience; thank for your report!
But is not fully clear to me the end of Fred’ story: I understadand that Whatsapp banned twice your client (not compliant with Whatsapp no-bot regulations);
Question:
Afterward, do you continued to supply your service with a standalone native mobil app ? Or you discontinued the service at all ?
My thoughts:
I’m from Italy and I worked on an e-commerce project with maybe some points in common with Fred (online ordering for in-store retail shops: www.rosposhop.com).
I believe that the instant messaging platform distribution is pretty similar to the Brasilian one: almost 90% of people use Whatsapp ( :-( ), and the rest 10% I guess is maybe something like a 2% with Telegram, a 2% with Messenger, 6% others. Kik, Wechat are completely unknown / unused here.
BTW, do you confirm a similar statistic in Brasil ?
Now, I’m aware about the no Whatsapp will to allow bots, and their banning policy. Your client hack (splendid in my opinion) you didn’t respect their rules, i’ts sad to say but they just applyied to Fred their regulations (you approved just using their apps).
Rumors say that next 12–13 April Facebook will probably officially announce the “Bot Store” on Messenger app (https://www.fbf8.com/).
My opinions:
- You possibly done a great work with Fred, but you violated regulations. We have to always remember to verify all regulations / laws compliance for any new commercial startup company.
- With this incoming “Messenger Bot Store” I think Facebook want to experiment now bots in a “controlled” B2B (business to business) contracts, as Wechat does, avoiding proliferation of “uncontrolled” bots that could be malicious and could be a huge NEGATIVE marketing return….(the second reason is that FB want to take a direct revenue sharing on any commercial bot business).
- Probably Facebook will consolidate the B2B model on Messneger and afterward will “port” the technology on Whatsapp. BTW, I’m uncertain about that: I never understood why Facebook still keep Messenger brand distinct from Whatsapp…
- Telegram business/ethical model of course is very different for the standard profit model Facebook (will) apply, I mean the company-bot suppliers “revenue sharing”. Instead Telegram policy is to leave a complete freedom to bot-makers (just banning against-freedom organizations…) but this, I admit, is another story :)
BTW, my article (sorry in Italian):
I’ll glad to read your thoughts about.
Thanks
giorgio