WhatsApp launches its premium version: this is how it works

WhatsApp tests a paid version with exclusive stickers and more pinned chats. Some iPhone users can now sign up.

WhatsApp takes the step: try its first paid subscription

The most used messaging platform in the world is about to change its model forever. Through screenshots leaked to Tech Bit, it is confirmed that WhatsApp Premium is already in the limited deployment phase.

The era of ‘everything free’ is over. The Meta-owned app wants you to pay for extra features. The move is not new in the sector, but it is an earthquake for its billions of users.

RelatedMaster your WhatsApp stickers with this definitive guide

What does this subscription offer?

For now, the confirmed benefits are concrete. The subscription would give access to premium and exclusive stickers, more pinned chats than the free version allows and ‘other benefits’ that are not yet detailed.

The key is in that ‘and more’. It is the door for Meta to directly monetize its star service, beyond business.

“Update your WhatsApp experience,” says the box that some users already see in Settings.

The text promises those exclusive stickers and additional pinned chats when you subscribe. It is the first time that WhatsApp proposes a direct payment to the end user for basic features.

This is the access (for now)

The novelty has a very limited rollout. Only some users with iPhone (iOS) are seeing the option in their app. A button appears to ‘Access the waiting list’.

By pressing it, you sign up. The system will notify you when you can start using the premium version. It is the classic staggered release strategy to gauge interest and adjust servers.

Rumors have been swirling for weeks, but now there is visual evidence. The free business model based on companies seems to want to complement itself with this direct income.

Are we at the beginning of the end of completely free WhatsApp? The first indications are that yes, but with an additional layer for those who want more, not a total wall. We’ll see how the user base reacts.

How artificial intelligence transforms global security

Motorola Solutions is committed to hybrid models and agentic AI in the transformation of the sector.

Security industry: cloud migration and artificial intelligence

Security is undergoing a profound transformation. The cloud, generative artificial intelligence and video surveillance systems as decision tools are redefining the sector. This was stated by Pedro Simoes, global vice president of video security and analytics at Motorola Solutions.

“The cloud is a very strong trend, but it is not a solution for all sectors,” he explained. Prison facilities, airports and nuclear plants require hybrid models that combine local infrastructure with cloud services. Motorola Solutions is committed to unified platforms.

One of the key advances is agentic artificial intelligence. The company introduced Operator, a platform that integrates video, access controls and sensors in a single interface. The objective: reduce the time between detection and response. “It’s not just identifying. It’s being collaborative in decisions,” said Simoes.

The role of sensors in smart cities

Cameras no longer just record: they are sensors. “Today a camera produces data that can be used to optimize logistics, mobility or business decisions,” he added. Security information extends to multiple applications.

However, the growth of AI poses privacy challenges. Motorola Solutions developed “AI nutrition labels,” documents that detail capabilities and limitations of its models. “We are the first company in the sector to create and use this type of labels,” said Simoes.

Mexico and the 2026 World Cup

Mexico is experiencing a key moment for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The arrival of millions of visitors is driving investments in technological infrastructure and security in airports, hotels and stadiums. Simoes confirmed collaboration with governments, without revealing details. “Safety is a priority; our responsibility is to develop technology that protects people and infrastructure.”

He recommended organizations think long term: “The decision should not be based only on current problems, but on the challenges of three or five years.” The combination of cloud, generative AI and unified platforms will define the next stage of the sector.

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Strawberry Moon: the June full moon will arrive on the 29th

The Strawberry Moon will light up the night sky on June 29. Know its origin and other names.

The night sky will offer a notable astronomical event at the end of June. That month’s Full Moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will reach its maximum splendor on Monday, June 29, according to the specialized portal Star Walk.

When and how to see it?

The full moon will occur exactly at 5:57 in the afternoon, central Mexico time. It will be the first full Moon after the summer solstice, which according to the same source will happen on Sunday, May 21. The satellite will be fully illuminated from June 28 to 30.

The origin of the name

Despite what its nickname suggests, the Moon does not take on a pinkish or reddish hue. The name “Strawberry Moon” comes from the native North American peoples, who named it that way because it coincided with the harvest season for this fruit in various regions of the continent.

In other cultures, this same full moon receives names such as:

  • Moon of Moras
  • Honeymoon
  • Rose Moon
  • Moon of Ripening Berries
  • Garden Moon
  • Green Corn Moon
  • Windy Moon
  • Birth Moon
  • Moon When the Buffalo Bellows

All of these nicknames are linked to natural phenomena typical of the same time of year.

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The oldest plague: remains from 5,500 years ago in Siberia

Traces of plague from 5,500 years ago found in teeth of Siberian hunter-gatherers.

Scientists have identified the earliest evidence of plague known so far: traces of bacterial DNA in the teeth of hunter-gatherers buried near Lake Baikal in Siberia. Carbon dating indicates that the disease caused outbreaks about 5,500 years ago, about 200 years earlier than previously thought.

Finding in Siberia

A team led by geneticist Eske Willerslev of the University of Copenhagen analyzed remains from four cemeteries. They found traces of Yersinia pestis in the teeth of 18 individuals. The dating revealed two episodes of infection.

“To understand our own history, understanding the history of the plague is extremely important,” Willerslev said.

The prehistoric plague spread in stages. According to the authors, it was probably transmitted from marmots—native rodents—when people consumed their raw organs or handled infected skins. It also spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing.

Many of the deceased were children between 8 and 11 years old. Three girls were buried together; two were cousins. An aunt and her nephew were found in another mass grave. “There were people who buried the dead and who knew who they were. It’s a very human element,” said co-author Ruairidh Macleod, an expert in ancient DNA at the University of Oxford.

Implications of the study

The researchers note that children may be at greater risk due to still developing immune systems. The presence of multiple victims suggests that the prehistoric plague caused both isolated cases and outbreaks, said geneticist Aida Andrades Valtueña, from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, who was not involved in the study.

This ancient strain evolved long before the bubonic plague responsible for the medieval Black Death. However, there is evidence that earlier plagues were just as serious. The disease not only affected populous cities, but also small nomadic groups.

“Understanding the steps the bacteria took to become the deadly pathogen we know today can provide clues about how pathogens could emerge in the future,” wrote Andrades Valtueña.

The study was published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

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