Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may not have talked about it in its keynote event at WWDC but it has an upcoming iOS 11 Messages feature known as Business Chat. On the company’s developer portal. The new tool is briefly detailed as offering a direct iMessage connection between businesses and their customers. Among the many other things it will be doing include answering questions and performing transactions.
Apple is is yet to describe every detail about the new tool on the table but it says that customers will be able to find businesses and perhaps start conversations. It will be able to operate across platforms including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
But Apple seems to be moving into an already dominated space
The company says that it will be unveiling further information about Business Chat at the upcoming annual developer conference, WWDC. However, even before then, it is clear that it is willing to test the waters of an already crowded space given that Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) have services similar to Business Chat.
The latter has in the recent past introduced a variety of new tools such as chatbots, quick replies and location sharing among others. Facebook also has a couple of direct messaging functionalities, which enable interaction between its over 1.2 billion monthly users. Other brands in the market using Messenger to manage customer request include KLM and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H).
Apple is trying to make its messaging apps more useful
The writing is on the wall on how Apple is trying to attract more clients and maintain those already on board. A while back Apple reported about the possibility of being able to make Venmo-like payments to contacts within iMessage. Having been initiated by Asian messaging apps like Tencent-owned WeChat the idea behind the strategy is to allow users interact more with the app.
Apparently, the Business Chat will also incorporate other features such as Apple Pay and calendar integration. This means that customers can make purchases right within a chat session. Nonetheless, let’s wait for the developer session and hear what else the Business Chat will be offering. In the meantime, Apple’s stock traded at $155.37 witnessing an increase of $0.92 or 0.60%.