WhatsApp: Messenger App cost calculation

How works | Some points | Cost

Do you want to create a messenger app like WhatsApp and calculate the cost to create apps like WhatsApp? Here we provide you with proper knowledge but first, we discuss WhatsApp application.

WhatsApp is a freeware and cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP service and it is owned by Facebook. In simple language, WhatsApp is an application that is used to send text messages, calls, video calls, images, and other media, documents, links and other user location.

WhatsApp contains a high amount of user in the field of social media. It has one billion users worldwide and now it is the biggest online Messenger app on the market. It has grown in multiple countries, including Brazil, India, and large parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom and France.

WhatsApp: About info

Founded: February 24, 2009

Founder(s): Jan Koum and Brian Acton

CEO: Jan Koum

Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States

Website: www.WhatsApp.com

Operating System:

Android, Windows Phone, iOS, BlackBerry OS, Symbian (there are Windows, macOS, and web app clients that work only in presence of a connected mobile app client.

WhatsApp: How does the application technically works?

WhatsApp uses Ejabberd (XMPP) server that helps instant message transfer between two or many users on a real-time basis. Ejabberd contains high reliability and sustainability even under peak traffic, that is the reason why WhatsApp developers chose Ejabberd above anything else.

ERLANG ( programming language) is used to code WhatsApp. Restructuring of code and some important changes were made to the Ejabberd server to achieve optimal server performance.

WhatsApp: Insights on data transfer

Over 50 billion messages were sent through WhatsApp in a day. The message queue length is the key to smooth data processing. The length of the message queue of all the processes associated is monitored with a code.

In case of multimedia messages, contents media files like audio, video, images are uploaded into an HTTP server and are linked with the content and then sent to the receiving node (receiver) in the form of a thumbnail. The content can either be viewed or discarded that is based on user preference.

WhatsApp: The protocol used

WhatsApp uses XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) in place of the primary protocol. DSL provides network security and also helps in preventing private data transfer.

The message is queued on the server when the message is sent. It waits in the queue until the recipient reconnects to receive the message and when the message is delivered to the sender gets notified by a double check mark near the message. And after the delivery, the messages are automatically and instantly deleted from the server memory.

WhatsApp keeps its resources to a bare minimum because of its instant deletion from the server memory process.

WhatsApp uses HTML5 WebSockets communication technology which facilitates two-way communication.

 WhatsApp: Registration process

The user can register for WhatsApp by the use of their mobile number. Firstly the user has to enter their mobile number. On entering the mobile number, the users will be sent an OTP (One Time Password), which once verified by the device will initiate the user to the chat screen.

image source: www.techbout.com

Database management

Mnesia DB carries the heavy-duty task of database management. It is a multiuser distributed DBMS, which happens to be the default DB of ERLANG. It helps to achieve quicker request responses, because of that improving the overall efficiency.

WhatsApp is built upon FreeBSD that is the OS of WhatsApp. WhatsApp is able to achieve better performance for storing multimedia files, the app uses an exclusive web server YAWS by Improvising on the ERLANG based applications and optimizing FreeBSD.

If you want to create a Messenger app like WhatsApp then don’t worry, here we described the calculation of cost for creating an app just like WhatsApp app.

Some points to keep in mind before starting the project

Before starting the project (to create a Messenger app like WhatsApp) you should consider a few vital aspects.

• You can check its feasibility and get the all-important user feedback regarding the app by launching an MVP.

• You have to take into mind the development team that would be working on building the app.

• Hire experienced app developers, designers, testers, project managers and others because your app has to compete with the most successful apps.

• You have to plan your budget in advance and then hire a proficient App Development Company to cater your services. Always keep in touch with the development team to keep the eyes on the progress of the project.

To know the cost of creating a messenger app like Snapchat click here

 WhatsApp: Calculation Of Cost To Create

The cost of creating a Messenger App like WhatsApp vary and depending on your future employer’s location. If we will take the Eastern Europe development team average salary, that cost is equal to $50 per working hour.

Consider the full membership of your prospect team, the team member could be as follows:

• sales manager ( they can be in touch with a client before, during, and after the development process)
• project manager (they can also take a business analyst responsibilities)
• software developers (they depending on the project complexity, a dev team can include 2-5 members for front-end development, the same is for back-end development, 2-3 members can be engaged in post-release support if such specified by a project)
• quality assurance engineers (1-4 members)
• UX/UI designers (2-4 members)
• marketing manager (they can be involved in product promotion)

MVP features to be included

Cost and development time of WhatsApp MVP features

Total cost:

Now you can calculate the total cost for creating an application like WhatsApp Messenger. You can conclude that the development process can take up to 1620 hours (+ 2 weeks for deployment). Hence the approximate cost of the WhatsApp like Messenger can be calculated as 1620 hours x $50, that equals to $81K per one platform.

If you want to develop an app both for iOS and Android then add 852 hours to the total amount. And if you want to release more versions of your application then the more money you will need respectively.

Note! The price which is above described indicate only including the preparation of necessary documents, meetings and so on and the development process is apart from it.