First facebook, now Kenya’s telecommunications company Safaricom is looking forward to cash in on the WhatsApp messaging service.

This comes after the internet –based messaging application announced on introducing free voice calls in June turning out telecom’s threat. However, Safaricom said it will devise ways such as introduction of internet service bundles.

“We welcome innovation in this space and over the top (OTT) players are now part of the telco ecosystem and as such we have to find viable commercial ways in which to engage and collaborate,” stated the telco.

WhatsApp’s Calls will definitely be routed through smartphone internet connections just like its free text messaging service which will be of convenience to mobile users now using a different form of communication and revenue payments as well.

Data is the future of communication as it is now however I still think Safaricom should have rolled out a similar app rather than focus on partnership now that it does not capitalize on data.

Following a lion’s share on voice call revenues of 77.6 billion out of 124.3 billion end of March 2013, the company might have its earnings go down after the app’s voice call activation.