WhatsApp gets rid of annual subscription fee

WhatsApp has announced that it will axe its $1 annual subscription fee starting today.

"The $1 annual subscription really doesn't work that well," WhatsApp founder Jan Koum said Monday. "We just don't want people to think at some point their communication to the world will be cut off."

Until now WhatsApp has been free for the first year and 99 cents for additional years. It will stop charging subscription fees immediately but it will likely be a few weeks to fully take the payments infrastructure out of all versions of the app.

As far as a new business model, WhatsApp says it will explore ways businesses can use the service to connect with individuals, but said the goal is to avoid spam and unwanted advertising.