WhatsApp Business API
What is the WhatsApp Business API?
The WhatsApp Business API (officially the WhatsApp Business Platform) is Meta's programmatic interface for sending and receiving WhatsApp messages at scale — template notifications, two-way support conversations, and automated replies that the free WhatsApp Business app cannot do. Orbit by Devotel is an official provider: connect a WhatsApp Business Account, verify your business, submit and manage message templates, and run WhatsApp alongside AI voice agents, SMS, RCS, email, and a built-in contact center on one platform and one pay-as-you-go bill.
As of August 2026, Orbit publishes a $0 WhatsApp platform fee in 100% of the 8 country pricing pages it ships (US, GB, DE, FR, ES, TR, BR, IN) — you pay only Meta's per-conversation charges, with no Devotel markup on top. See the per-country WhatsApp pricing.
What the WhatsApp Business API on Orbit includes
| Capability | What you get |
|---|---|
| Official WhatsApp Business Platform access | Connect through Meta's Cloud API as an official provider — no unofficial workarounds, and the same platform your customers trust with a green-tick verified profile. |
| Bring your own WABA, or start new | Link an existing WhatsApp Business Account (BYO WABA) or create one through Orbit, then register the phone number and go live. |
| Message templates | Submit, manage, and reuse approved template messages for utility, marketing, and authentication notifications — with buttons, media headers, and multiple languages. |
| Two-way conversations | Receive inbound messages and reply inside the 24-hour customer-service window from the shared inbox or the API, with full conversation history. |
| Native AI agents on WhatsApp | Deploy an AI agent that reads inbound WhatsApp messages, answers from your knowledge base, and hands off to a human in the shared inbox — no separate bot stack to wire up. |
| One shared inbox for every channel | WhatsApp conversations land in the same inbox as SMS, RCS, and email, so a team answers every channel in one place on one account. |
How to set up the WhatsApp Business API on Orbit
1. Create or link a WhatsApp Business Account
Start a new WhatsApp Business Account or bring an existing one (BYO WABA) through Meta's embedded signup — Orbit connects you as an official provider with no unofficial workarounds.
2. Verify your business and display name
Complete Meta business verification and pick an approved display name, so customers see a verified company — and can opt into the green-tick profile — rather than an anonymous number.
3. Register and configure the phone number
Attach the phone number that sends and receives your WhatsApp traffic, and set the profile details customers see when they open your business.
4. Submit message templates
Draft and submit utility, marketing, and authentication templates for business-initiated notifications, with buttons, media headers, and multiple languages, then reuse each approved template as it clears review.
5. Send and receive — and automate
Start two-way conversations from the shared inbox, the dashboard, or the API; once a customer replies, free-form messages flow for 24 hours, and a native AI agent can answer inbound chats first with a human taking over in the same inbox.
Common use cases
Customer support
Run two-way WhatsApp support with an AI agent answering first and a human taking over in the shared inbox when a conversation needs it.
Transactional notifications
Send order, delivery, and appointment updates with approved utility templates — reliably delivered on the channel customers already read.
Authentication
Deliver one-time passcodes and account alerts with authentication templates, and reach the same customer over SMS from the same platform when needed.
Orbit vs Twilio vs Infobip for WhatsApp
| Feature | Orbit | Twilio | Infobip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business Platform | |||
| Official Meta WhatsApp Business Platform access | |||
| Verified green-tick business profile support | |||
| Template message submission & management | |||
| Shared team inbox included | |||
| Native AI agents on WhatsApp | |||
| One platform, beyond WhatsApp | |||
| SMS, RCS & email on the same platform | |||
| Programmable voice + AI voice agents | |||
| Published pay-as-you-go pricing, self-serve signup | |||
| One platform & one bill across every channel | |||
Comparison data as of Q3 2026. Competitor feature details sourced from public vendor documentation, G2, and Gartner Peer Insights. Subject to change at the vendor's discretion. Yes Partial No
WhatsApp Business API — frequently asked
- What is the WhatsApp Business API?
- The WhatsApp Business API (officially the WhatsApp Business Platform) is Meta's programmatic interface for sending and receiving WhatsApp messages at scale — template notifications, two-way support conversations, and automated replies. Unlike the free WhatsApp Business app, it connects through an official provider so a business can message customers programmatically and at volume.
- How do I get access to the WhatsApp Business API?
- You connect through an official provider. On Orbit by Devotel you create or link a WhatsApp Business Account, verify your business, and register a phone number — you can bring an existing WABA or start a new one. Once approved you submit message templates and start two-way conversations.
- How do I implement WhatsApp Business API integration on Orbit?
- In five steps: start a new WhatsApp Business Account or bring an existing one (BYO WABA), complete Meta's business verification, register and configure the phone number, submit utility/marketing/authentication message templates, then send and receive from the shared inbox or the API — with the option to put a native AI agent on top that answers inbound chats and hands off to a human in the same inbox.
- Is the WhatsApp Business API free?
- Access through Orbit is pay-as-you-go with no monthly platform fee — you top up credits and pay only for what you send. WhatsApp's own messaging charges are set by Meta and vary by message category and country; see the pricing page or contact sales for a volume rate card.
- What is the difference between the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business API?
- The free WhatsApp Business app is for a single small business handled on one phone. The WhatsApp Business API (Business Platform) is for programmatic, high-volume messaging: automated template notifications, multiple agents in a shared inbox, two-way support at scale, and integration with the rest of your communications stack.
- Can I run an AI agent on WhatsApp?
- Yes. Orbit runs native AI agents on WhatsApp: an agent reads inbound messages, answers from your knowledge base, and hands off to a human in the shared inbox when needed — on the same platform as your SMS, voice, and email agents.
- Can I use my existing WhatsApp Business Account with Orbit?
- Yes. You can bring an existing WhatsApp Business Account (BYO WABA) or create a new one through Orbit. Either way, WhatsApp runs alongside SMS, RCS, email, voice, and AI agents on one account and one pay-as-you-go bill.
Explore more
Start on WhatsApp, on one platform
WhatsApp is one channel of Orbit by Devotel — voice, SMS, RCS, email, video, AI agents, and customer data on one platform and one pay-as-you-go bill. Start free, or talk to our team about your WhatsApp Business Account.