iWorld
Whatsapp message boom rings alarm bells for mobile operators
MUMBAI: Looks like Whatsapp is about to have the last word quite literally. A new study by Juniper Research predicts that over-the-top (OTT) business messaging will leap from 390 billion messages in 2025 to more than 560 billion by 2027, powered by WhatsApp’s cutthroat pricing play.
Juniper’s latest A2P & Business Messaging Market 2025–2030 report finds that Whatsapp’s authentication rates 50 to 90 per cent lower than traditional A2P SMS one-time passcodes are helping it corner a sizeable slice of the enterprise communication pie. With prices this low, businesses are flocking to Whatsapp for their verification and alert needs, edging telecom operators out of the conversation.
“By first securing authentication traffic, Whatsapp is laying the groundwork to move into higher-value business messaging,” said Juniper Research senior research analyst Molly Gatford. “Once enterprises are onboarded for authentication, WhatsApp must upsell to marketing use cases, where termination fees are far higher and the real revenue opportunity lies.”
That’s not good news for mobile network operators, who are already losing ground in the lucrative business messaging arena. Juniper Research warns that if operators don’t adapt, OTT platforms could completely dominate enterprise communication in just a few years.
The report suggests that to keep up, operators must rethink their pricing strategy moving from flat SMS rates to use case-based pricing across SMS and RCS (Rich Communication Services). This, analysts say, will help enterprises understand the added value of RCS and prevent further migration to OTT channels.
To pull this off, telcos will need to partner with technology providers capable of using AI-driven tools and behavioural analysis to classify messages by use case at scale ensuring fair and accurate billing. “By adopting a use case-based pricing strategy that is consistent across SMS and RCS, operators will enable enterprises to better assess RCS’s added value over SMS,” Gatford explained.
Juniper’s new market suite offers one of the most detailed assessments yet of the A2P and business messaging landscape, with over 146,000 datapoints across 61 countries. And the big takeaway? The future of business messaging may not be in your inbox, it’s already in your Whatsapp chats.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
