New Delhi, Sept 6 (KNN) The world’s largest messaging app WhatsApp, which has over 1 billion users across the globe, has officially announced launch of new service to help businesses connect and communicate with consumers easily.

WhatsApp Business aims to target businesses that have thus far been using WhatsApp accounts meant for individuals.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, twitter are already widely used by SMEs to promote their businesses in India.

With the new app, Whatsapp envisages helping businesses establish direct contact with consumers seamlessly while ensuring authenticity.

WhatsApp said these new tools are being tested through a closed pilot programme. In India, it is currently testing these tools with 1mg and BookMyShow.

"We’re building and testing new tools via a free WhatsApp Business app for small companies and an enterprise solution for bigger companies operating at a large scale with a global base of customers, like airlines, e-commerce sites, and banks," WhatsApp said in a blogpost.

These businesses will be able to use these solutions to provide customers with useful notifications like flight times, delivery confirmations, and other updates, it added.

WhatsApp Business gives users a verified green checkmark badge next to their names. Second, businesses will be able to create a company profile with information such as address, business hours, description of product or service offered. Third, WhatsApp Business will help manage consumer chats.