Depending on how old you are, you may have never seen one, but until a few years ago many cities around the world had telephone directories known as “yellow pages” for personal and business phone numbers. Now, WhatsApp has its own yellow page for business directory.

This WhatsApp directory is integrated directly into the app, and the idea was to fulfill one of the main drawbacks of the commercial side of the messaging platform: facilitating the possibility of finding businesses.

It new features Currently only available in five countries: Mexico, Colombia, UK, Indonesia and Brazil; It was in the last country where WhatsApp started testing its directory in the city of São Paulo, and has now expanded its availability in the countries listed above.

Operation is simple and practical, both for users and for businesses. Any commercial companies or businesses that register on the WhatsApp Business platform in these first 5 countries will appear in the directory. In the case of Brazil, even directories are enabled for businesses and small businesses. With this new function, Zuckerberg confirmed his plans to make it easier for WhatsApp users to find new businesses and buy from them, without having to leave the app. “The goal is for you to be able to find businesses, send messages, and buy directly in WhatsApp chats.” For the latter, of course, they’re working on an in-app payment system that’s not yet globally ready, but they’ve done some related testing. in the region like India and Brazil (for money transfers between users).

Hopefully it won’t be long until we see that business directory within WhatsApp in more territory.[via[vía[melalui[víaTechCrunch]