WhatsApp Business Platform — Production Reference (2025-2026) Skill

WhatsApp Business Platform — Production Reference (2025-2026)

Naming: Meta's umbrella is WhatsApp Business Platform; the current API is the Cloud API. "WhatsApp Business API" is legacy phrasing (the On-Premises API sunset Oct 23, 2025). "WABA" (WhatsApp Business Account) is an account entity, not an API. API current version: v23.0+. All conversation-based pricing replaced by per-message pricing July 1, 2025.

Depends on: the meta skill (BM health, verification, account quality/classifier, proxy/isolation, disposable-BM strategy, ban mechanics). ALWAYS load meta first. Do NOT load meta-ads unless doing CTWA.

Related: meta-ads (CTWA campaign setup + CAPI attribution); ycloud (the YCloud BSP platform) + ycloud-api (YCloud v2 REST API).

MANDATORY — read context AND report the full BM roster BEFORE any action
(including before clarifying questions):
1. READ `.maccing/growth/README.md` (the vendor/account index), if it exists.
2. ENUMERATE every BM — never assume one. The path is `meta/<profile>/<bm>/`, so
   list `.maccing/growth/meta/*/` (profiles) and `.maccing/growth/meta/*/*/` (BMs),
   then READ the root README, EVERY profile README, and EVERY BM README found.
3. Also READ EVERY WABA README: `.maccing/growth/meta/*/*/whatsapp/*/README.md`.
4. TELL the operator a roster of ALL BMs up front — one line each
   (profile · BM · verification/tier · WhatsApp number · quality · wallet/ramp) —
   INCLUDING BMs unrelated to the current task. Never silently narrow to one BM.
Skipping this = operating on stale data and hiding live assets from the operator.

1. Platform Overview

WhatsApp Business App vs. Cloud API

| Dimension | WhatsApp Business App | WhatsApp Cloud API | |---|---|---| | Target | Small business, 1-2 agents | Enterprise, automation, scale | | Access | Free mobile app | REST API (Meta-hosted) | | Volume | Manual, limited | Programmatic, unlimited | | Automation | None | Full (chatbots, CRM, flows) | | Templates | Basic | Full template library | | Multi-agent | No | Yes (via inbox platform) | | Analytics | None | Full metrics API | | Cost | Free | Per-message charges apply |

On-Premises API: Permanently shut down October 23, 2025. Cloud API is the only path. Error code 1005 = number still on on-prem.

Integration paths:

Direct Cloud API — REST against Meta directly. Full control, requires engineering effort.
BSP (Business Solution Provider) — managed infrastructure with inbox, automation, analytics UI. Recommended BSP: YCloud (see ycloud skill).

2. Cloud API Setup

Prerequisites: Meta Developer account, verified Meta Business Manager, verified business entity, phone number not previously on any WhatsApp account.

Step-by-step:

Create Meta Business Account at business.facebook.com
Register as Meta Developer at developers.facebook.com
Create a Business type app → Set Up WhatsApp product
Add phone number → verify via SMS or voice call
Generate System User permanent token (Admin role, permissions: whatsapp_business_messaging, whatsapp_business_management, catalog_management) — never use the 24h temporary token in production
Configure HTTPS webhook endpoint → subscribe to the messages field
(Optional) Apply for OBA blue badge (WABA 30+ days old, verified, 2FA, notable coverage)

API version: v23.0. Base URL: https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{phone_number_id}/messages. Pin to a specific version in production.

Webhook verification handler:

app.get('/webhook', (req, res) => {
  const mode = req.query['hub.mode'];
  const token = req.query['hub.verify_token'];
  const challenge = req.query['hub.challenge'];
  if (mode === 'subscribe' && token === process.env.WEBHOOK_VERIFY_TOKEN) {
    res.status(200).send(challenge);
  } else {
    res.sendStatus(403);
  }
});

13. WhatsApp Business Calling API (July 2025)

GA July 15, 2025. Voice calls directly within WhatsApp conversations.

CSW interaction: A user-initiated call opens and resets the 24-hour Customer Service Window, identical to an inbound message. After a call, businesses can send free-form service messages and free utility templates for 24 hours.

Two call types: user-initiated (inbound) and brand-initiated (outbound, to opted-in users).

Requirements: System User token with whatsapp_business_messaging, HTTPS webhook subscribed to calls field, WebRTC implementation (or BSP), IVR via DTMF.

Key features: full conversation thread visible during call, click-to-call buttons in interactive/template messages, IVR via DTMF.

14. Marketing Messages Lite API (MM Lite)

Launched April 2025. A dedicated API for marketing broadcasts using Meta's ads AI to optimize delivery timing and recipient selection.

| Aspect | MM Lite API | Cloud API | |---|---|---| | Purpose | Marketing broadcasts | All message types | | AI optimization | Yes (Meta ads AI) | No | | Delivery rate | Up to 9% higher | Standard | | US users | Not delivered | Not delivered (since April 2025) | | Interaction | One-way (templates only) | Two-way |

When to use: large marketing broadcasts → MM Lite; customer support, utility, two-way → Cloud API.

Note for 360dialog / Gupshup users: prefer MM API route to avoid their ~6-7% marketing surcharge that applies only on the standard Cloud API endpoint.

15. WhatsApp Business Management API

Phone Number Management: GET /{WABA_ID}/phone_numbers, add/register numbers programmatically, set display names, manage 2FA PINs.

Template Management:

POST /{WABA_ID}/message_templates  # Create
GET  /{WABA_ID}/message_templates  # List (filter: ?status=APPROVED)
POST /{TEMPLATE_ID}                # Update
DELETE /{TEMPLATE_ID}              # Delete

QR Code Management: POST /{PHONE_NUMBER_ID}/message_qrdls — create pre-filled chat QR codes.

Analytics: GET /{WABA_ID}/analytics?start=...&end=...&granularity=DAY&metric_types=SENT,DELIVERED,READ

16. Business Profile Fields

See reference/compliance.md for all Business Profile field definitions, the POST /{PHONE_NUMBER_ID}/whatsapp_business_profile API reference, display-name approval mechanics, verification, OBA requirements, and financial-niche profile compliance.

18. 2025-2026 Key Changes Summary

| Change | Date | Impact | |---|---|---| | On-Premises API sunset | October 23, 2025 | All must use Cloud API | | Per-message pricing (PMP replaces CBP) | July 1, 2025 | Each template message billed individually | | Utility free in CSW | July 1, 2025 | Utility templates inside 24h window are free | | Auth rates -65% to -78% (LATAM) | July 1, 2025 | Major OTP cost reduction | | Marketing blocked to US numbers | April 1, 2025 | No marketing to US users (error 131049) | | MM Lite API launched | April 2025 | AI-optimized marketing delivery | | Messaging limits: portfolio-level | October 7, 2025 | All numbers in portfolio share tier | | Tier evaluation: every 6 hours | 2025 | Faster scaling | | WhatsApp Business Calling GA | July 15, 2025 | Voice calls in WhatsApp | | Blue badge replaces green badge | 2024 (rolled out 2024-2025) | UI change only; existing badges converted | | Service conversations unlimited-free | November 1, 2024 | No monthly cap; all service conversations free | | Utility/Auth body cap: 512 chars | October 1, 2025 | Error 2388040 if exceeded at creation | | Flagged phone-number status eliminated | October 7, 2025 | Red quality only blocks advancement, no auto-downgrade | | Verified tier floor raised to 2,000/day | October 7, 2025 | Was 1,000 | | HTTPS URL requirement for templates | January 1, 2026 | Shorteners rejected; must be live HTTPS | | Brazil BRL local billing | July 1, 2026 | Eligible accounts billed in BRL | | Meta CA cert change (mTLS) | March 31, 2026 | Update trust store: meta-outbound-api-ca-2025-12.pem | | BSUID added to webhooks | March 31, 2026 | New identity.user_id field | | BSUID may replace phone in from | June 2026+ | CRM must handle both identifiers | | AI chatbot restriction | 2026 | Only task-specific AI allowed | | Auto-categorization enforcement | April 9/16, 2025 | Meta auto-corrects category; repeat offenders lose UTILITY access 7 days | | Carousel messages (interactive) | February 2026 | 2-10 card carousels in CSW | | Business App + Cloud API coexistence | January 2026 | Same number, both modes |

19. Quick Reference

Essential Endpoints

POST https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{PHONE_NUMBER_ID}/messages        # Send message
POST https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{PHONE_NUMBER_ID}/media           # Upload media
GET  https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{MEDIA_ID}                        # Get media URL
POST https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{WABA_ID}/message_templates       # Create template
GET  https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{WABA_ID}/message_templates       # List templates
GET  https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{WABA_ID}/phone_numbers           # Get phone numbers
POST https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{WABA_ID}/flows                   # Create flow
POST https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{FLOW_ID}/publish                 # Publish flow
GET  https://graph.facebook.com/v23.0/{WABA_ID}/analytics               # Analytics

Required Permissions

whatsapp_business_messaging    # Send/receive messages
whatsapp_business_management   # Manage templates, phone numbers, settings
catalog_management             # Product catalog integration (optional)

New Integration Checklist

[ ] Meta Business account created and verified
[ ] App created in Meta Developer dashboard
[ ] Phone number added and verified (6-digit code)
[ ] System User created with Admin role
[ ] Permanent access token generated and stored securely
[ ] Webhook endpoint deployed with HTTPS
[ ] Webhook verification challenge handler implemented
[ ] Webhook signature verification implemented (x-hub-signature-256)
[ ] messages field subscribed in webhook settings
[ ] At least one template created and approved
[ ] Opt-in collection mechanism in place before any proactive messaging
[ ] Env vars: WA_PHONE_NUMBER_ID, WA_BUSINESS_ACCOUNT_ID, WA_ACCESS_TOKEN, APP_SECRET, WEBHOOK_VERIFY_TOKEN
[ ] CRM stores both phone number AND BSUID fields
[ ] Error handling with retry logic implemented
[ ] Idempotent webhook processing with message ID deduplication

Cost Calculation Formula

Monthly Cost = Σ (messages_delivered × country_rate × category_multiplier)
             - volume_discounts (utility/auth only)
             - free_CSW_utility_messages
             - free_72h_CTWA_messages

Effective Rate: Marketing >> Utility > Authentication >> Service (free)

Routing Table

| Intent | Reference | Use for | |---|---|---| | Message types, payloads, interactive messages, typing indicator, read receipt | reference/message-types.md | All send-message JSON shapes; text, image, video, document, audio, sticker, location, contacts, reaction, buttons, lists, flows, typing | | Template creation, approval, pacing, limits, dispatch strategy | reference/templates.md | Creating templates via API, template JSON, approval process, quality states, pacing vs pausing, Template Strategy for marketing broadcasts (copy, image headers, forbidden words, opt-out) | | Quality KPIs, throughput tiers, daily limits, quality rating, recovery protocol, queue management | reference/sending-and-scale.md | 80 MPS throughput, messaging limit tiers, quality system, quality KPIs, recovery protocol, bulk send queue code | | WhatsApp Flows (native in-chat forms, appointments, surveys) | reference/flows.md | Flow JSON schema, API endpoints, dynamic flows backend, payment flows (Brazil/India) | | Webhook events, payloads, signature verification, BSUID, best practices | reference/webhooks.md | Incoming message webhooks, status updates, BSUID June 2026 change, Express handler code, queue-first architecture | | Media upload, retrieve, download, caching | reference/media.md | Supported formats, size limits, upload/retrieve/download API, media ID reuse strategy | | Node.js/TypeScript SDK, raw fetch, integration patterns | reference/integration-sdk.md | @great-detail/whatsapp SDK setup, webhook handler, raw fetch, order lifecycle/CTWA/CRM patterns | | Error codes, retry logic, delivery failures, 131026/131049/132015 | reference/error-codes.md | Full error code table by category, retry strategy TypeScript snippet, real-world broadcast baselines | | Opt-in/opt-out, LGPD (Brazil), GDPR, anti-spam, content restrictions, Business Profile compliance, display-name approval, verification, OBA, financial-niche | reference/compliance.md | Consent requirements, opt-out recognition, LGPD 5-year retention, 2026 AI restriction, Business Profile API + field definitions, display-name approval, verification, OBA requirements, financial-niche restrictions | | Per-message pricing, free windows (CSW/CTWA), Meta rate card, cost optimization, BSP comparison table, WhatsApp Payments | reference/pricing-and-billing.md | PMP rates by market, free window rules, volume tier discounts, Meta base rate card, cost calc, full BSP comparison table, WhatsApp Payments (Brazil/India) | | Direct Cloud API setup, BSP migration, number quality/longevity, cold lists | reference/waba-provisioning.md | Direct Cloud API setup sequence, switching BSP / migrating WABA (PIN reset, device-trust gotchas), cold list strategy | | Disposable BM pipeline, proxy/isolation stack, BM sources, profile acquisition, phone number strategy, display name strategy | meta skill | Full disposable-BM strategy, proxy comparison table, BM setup sequence, Number Warming Protocol (official WABA), phone number acquisition | | YCloud BSP platform (campaigns, inbox, contacts, webhooks) | ycloud skill | BSP platform operations, campaign management, YCloud features | | YCloud v2 REST API (send message, list messages, webhook endpoints, pagination) | ycloud-api skill | YCloud API reference, pagination gotchas (page not offset), HMAC signature, campaign-send lag caveat, broadcast monitoring |

Agent Skills: WhatsApp Business Platform — Production Reference (2025-2026)

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