Amazon working on WhatsApp competitor?

The focus of the product will be messaging, voice and video calls along with, obviously, photo sharing. It will support stickers and GIFs, and the plan is to include @mention.  A platform with encryption and security taken seriously are some of the factors that the platform could depend on.

Messaging platforms are becoming an inseparable part of our lives. In India, WhatsApp, is extremely popular way to stay connected with friends and family. Amazon is now planning to enter the space and launch its own messaging platform.

According to a report AFTV News (via Techcrunch), the retail giant is all set to launch its messaging platform dubbed 'anytime' and has begun surveying customers. The survey points out several factors such as privacy and security, a platform that can connect everyone using their names without the need for phone numbers, can work on desktop as well as mobile platforms, let you easily express yourself, challenge friends for games and more. Interestingly, it also lists colour coding conversations and placing food orders together and listening to music and so on.

The report adds that the focus of the product will be messaging, voice and video calls along with, obviously, photo sharing. It will support stickers and GIFs, and the plan is to include @mention to directly write to someone. This would mean group chats will be a part of the platform.

Making audio and video calls and a platform with encryption and security taken seriously are some of the factors that the platform could depend on. This isn't a big surprise, considering the company had recently acquired video conferencing and communications service for business dubbed Chime.

The new service, if launched, will compete with the like of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and so on.