Cradle WhatsApp Business was released in September 2026. Here's what it covers and how to get it for your organisation.

What's available

Item	Available
AU sender numbers	Yes
UK sender numbers	Yes
NZ sender numbers	Not yet
Messaging WhatsApp users worldwide	Yes, once your sender number is registered
Cradle desktop app (Windows and macOS)	Yes, the full feature set
Cradle iOS app	Yes, read and reply
Cradle Android app	Yes, read and reply
Sending text messages	Yes
Message templates	Yes
Sending and receiving photos and documents	Yes, in the Cradle desktop app

Reach is global once your sender is registered

Unlike SMS, WhatsApp doesn't enforce country boundaries on who you can message. Once your sender number is registered with WhatsApp Business, that number can message any WhatsApp user, anywhere WhatsApp operates. A single Cradle WhatsApp number can reach clients in different countries.

Sender numbers

AU and UK Cradle numbers can be registered as WhatsApp senders. Most Cradle numbers can be the sender, including a firm's existing landline. There's no need to use a separate mobile the way SMS requires.

The 24-hour reply window still applies. See The WhatsApp 24-hour window for what that means.

WhatsApp in New Zealand

NZ numbers can't be registered as WhatsApp senders yet. If you have an NZ Cradle number and want to use WhatsApp, talk to your admin about whether an AU sender number makes sense for the conversations that need it. We'll update this article when NZ goes live.

For more on what WhatsApp Business is and how it fits a professional services firm, see the WhatsApp Business feature page.

Mobile apps

The Cradle iOS app and Cradle Android app show WhatsApp conversations in the Messages tab, beside your texts, and you can reply from there. Templates, photos and documents are in the Cradle desktop app.

Templates

WhatsApp message templates let you start a conversation, or reopen one after the 24-hour window has closed. See About WhatsApp message templates for what they are, and Managing WhatsApp templates for how an admin sets them up.

Getting WhatsApp turned on

WhatsApp is enabled for the organisation by Cradle, then set up by an admin in the admin portal:

An admin asks Cradle to enable WhatsApp. In the admin portal, the WhatsApp item under Setup offers Request WhatsApp when it isn't enabled yet. You can also contact Cradle support.
Once it's enabled, the admin opens Setup, then WhatsApp, chooses Continue with Facebook, and fills in the business details to connect your WhatsApp Business account.
The admin chooses Add sender, picks the Cradle number to send from, and verifies it with a code sent by text message or voice call.

After that, every user in your org sees WhatsApp conversations in the messaging area of the Cradle desktop app.

WhatsApp availability today