<p>Facebook on Monday added a digital payments feature to its WhatsApp messaging service, starting in Brazil but with an eye to expanding around the world.</p>.<p>WhatsApp users in Brazil can use the encrypted mobile messaging service to send money or make purchases, Facebook said in a blog post.</p>.<p>It marked the first time the payments platform used at the leading social network was woven into WhatsApp.</p>.<p>People will be able to send money or make a purchase from a local business without leaving their chat, the company noted.</p>.<p>"Payments on WhatsApp are beginning to roll out to people across Brazil beginning today and we look forward to bringing it to everyone as we go forward," the service said.</p>.<p>Sending money or making payments is a free option for WhatsApp users, but businesses will be charged a processing fee on par with those charged for typically credit card transactions, according to the messaging service.</p>.<p>Facebook sees long-term, money-making potential in making its social network and messaging apps venues for businesses to engage in online conversations and transactions with customers.</p>.<p>"The over 10 million small and micro businesses are the heartbeat of Brazil's communities," WhatsApp said.</p>.<p>"It's become second nature to send a zap to a business to get questions answered."</p>.<p>Digital payments on WhatsApp will be tied to credit or debit cards to start, and transactions will require special identification codes or fingerprint verification.</p>.<p>WhatsApp is encrypted end-to-end, and is the most popular mobile messaging app in the world with more than 1.5 billion monthly users around the world, according to market tracker Statistica.</p>
<p>Facebook on Monday added a digital payments feature to its WhatsApp messaging service, starting in Brazil but with an eye to expanding around the world.</p>.<p>WhatsApp users in Brazil can use the encrypted mobile messaging service to send money or make purchases, Facebook said in a blog post.</p>.<p>It marked the first time the payments platform used at the leading social network was woven into WhatsApp.</p>.<p>People will be able to send money or make a purchase from a local business without leaving their chat, the company noted.</p>.<p>"Payments on WhatsApp are beginning to roll out to people across Brazil beginning today and we look forward to bringing it to everyone as we go forward," the service said.</p>.<p>Sending money or making payments is a free option for WhatsApp users, but businesses will be charged a processing fee on par with those charged for typically credit card transactions, according to the messaging service.</p>.<p>Facebook sees long-term, money-making potential in making its social network and messaging apps venues for businesses to engage in online conversations and transactions with customers.</p>.<p>"The over 10 million small and micro businesses are the heartbeat of Brazil's communities," WhatsApp said.</p>.<p>"It's become second nature to send a zap to a business to get questions answered."</p>.<p>Digital payments on WhatsApp will be tied to credit or debit cards to start, and transactions will require special identification codes or fingerprint verification.</p>.<p>WhatsApp is encrypted end-to-end, and is the most popular mobile messaging app in the world with more than 1.5 billion monthly users around the world, according to market tracker Statistica.</p>