Facebook buys WhatsApp for $16 billion

[Qtis]

Many of you probably use some kind of messaging app. Some use the Facebook messenger, Apple's Messages, Snapchat or WhatsApp. Most are free and require little to no viewing of adverts or using a specific social media. Well that may change with Facebook buying WhatsApp, the free for one year and $0.99 per year the next years:

According to an early report from Bloomberg News reporter Sarah Frier, Facebook is set to buy WhatsApp for $16 billion. An SEC filing confirms the acquisition for $4 billion in cash to WhatsApp's security holders, along with $12 billion in Facebook stock and an additional $3 billion in Facebook stock that will vest over four years

Source

Hopefully this will not ruin the fantastic and virtually free messaging platform.

 

[shakirmoledina]

I have never seen facebook spoil anything that they have bought. Kinda like google but more evident.

However that's a huge amount to be moving around and maybe even a very great risk. But will whatsapp agree?

EDIT: I may have misunderstood but it seems they have ALREADY bought it?

 

[PolloDiablo]

fuck

 

[Xexyz]

DAYUM! 16 Billion DOLLARS?!?!?

 

[KingAsix]

Shit! That is a lot of money to be spending on something that I, personally, think it's silly. What's the point of acquiring this. Maybe I missed something.

 

[Pleng]

So are you going to have to have a facebook account to use Whatsapp?
If that *is* the case then what's the point of Whatsapp at all, as facebook already offers private messaging to contacts...?

 

[Qtis]

So are you going to have to have a facebook account to use Whatsapp?
If that *is* the case then what's the point of Whatsapp at all, as facebook already offers private messaging to contacts...?

That is the worst case scenario in my opinion.

But the simple reason for the acquisition is the user base and "if you can't beat them, buy them".

 

[DSoryu]

So are you going to have to have a facebook account to use Whatsapp?
If that *is* the case then what's the point of Whatsapp at all, as facebook already offers private messaging to contacts...?

Delete all the competitors from the market?

 

[Taleweaver]

Delete all the competitors from the market?

Erm...won't an acquisition for this amount just cause a whole bunch of whatsapp-clones to pop up?

 

[Qtis]

Erm...won't an acquisition for this amount just cause a whole bunch of whatsapp-clones to pop up?

That has already happened. KIK Messenger, WeChat (Chinese IIRC), Facebook messenger, etc

Luckily Zuckerberg has said Ads will not be a priority for WhatsApp. Instead they will focus on growing the userbase (currently at over a million new users per day). Also an interesting note is that WhatsApp is serving close to the amount of messages as SMS messages in total. In other words, WhatsApp is cannibalizing SMS growth (at least in countries with good 3G/4G/WiFi covereage).

Source

 

[Clydefrosch]

12 billion in facebook stocks? sounds like a bad deal to be honest, unless they sell them on day one.

 

[FAST6191]

I have never seen facebook spoil anything that they have bought. Kinda like google but more evident.

However that's a huge amount to be moving around and maybe even a very great risk. But will whatsapp agree?

EDIT: I may have misunderstood but it seems they have ALREADY bought it?

Didn't they hose up instagram.

Anyway I am one of those luddites without an account or phone so I use neither service. I have heard of whatsapp though so they must be doing something right.

 

[porkiewpyne]

I didn't even know they switched to a trial+annual subscription based business model. Awwwkkwwaarrdddd.... ;O;

 

[Qtis]

I didn't even know they switched to a trial+annual subscription based business model. Awwwkkwwaarrdddd.... ;O;

Well, it's a very strange thing all in all. I've used WhatsApp for a few years now and have yet to actually pay for it

 

[Arras]

So who's willing to bet Facebook is going to check your Whatsapp message contents now to give you even better "related content" on Facebook?

 

[Flame]

people are creating apps like whatsapp and flappy bird making shit loads of money.


and us(gbatemp members) just sitting here masturbating waiting for gateway 2.0

 

[ßleck]

I read that this partnership won't change anything for the users, right here. So it doesn't really matter that much, I guess. As long as there are no irritating stuff like ads I'm happy.

 

[spotanjo3]

I used to have whatsapp but for .99 cent every year after you tried it for free in one year. Until I found out about Facebook (UGH). Good thing that I deleted it and found Viber. The Viber is way better and best of all.. ITS FREE. No cents at all.

P.S. You can also download Viber for PC as well. It have Video beta almost like facetime. NICE! Try it and its better than Whatsapp. Whatsapp doesnt have windows for PC at all.

 

[FAST6191]

people are creating apps like whatsapp and flappy bird making shit loads of money.


and us(gbatemp members) just sitting here masturbating waiting for gateway 2.0

You mean actually do something useful with our lives and talents.... I fear you have not quite grasped the way of the layabout.

 

[DinohScene]

There comes a time where everything social gets assimilated by facebook.

We are Facebook.
Lower your security and surrender your social appls.
We will add your userbase and application distinctiveness to our own.
Your users will adapt to service us.
Resistance is futile.