Facebook to buy WhatsApp For $16 Billion

darubio · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:34

this is just crazy for an app with little revenue...

http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/facebook-buying-whatsapp-for-16b-in-cash-and-stock-plus-3b-in-rsus/

Slam · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:35

I hope Facebook don't monetise this into oblivion

Biohazard · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:37

I vote we call it WhatsFacebook

Shocky-FM · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:38

Oh well, time to stop using whatsapp.

Mynight · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:38

Adverts incoming!

Along with scanning messages for advertising keywords.

I still don't understand why or how these size of apps exist without selling data/advertising. Server costs must be humongous!

cm1179 · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:39

Err its $19bn actually

May aswell delete my thread :/

Biohazard · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:40

Aww you ****.

estebanrey · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:40

Don't really see the point of it when most contracts give you unlimited texts nowadays.

Biohazard · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:41

It's good for transferring media and sending inappropriate noises

Gregster · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:42

16 or 19 Billion? 2 conflicting threads here and I CBA to read the other.

explicit4u · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:43

estebanrey said:
Don't really see the point of it when most contracts give you unlimited texts nowadays.

Handy when you're only connected to wifi (ie. on the Underground).

Slam · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:44

estebanrey said:
Don't really see the point of it when most contracts give you unlimited texts nowadays.

Need more than sms messages to keep in touch nowadays, photos, video and audio... Plus you don't get unlimited overseas texts let alone multimedia sms messages

andy_mk3 · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:45

explicit4u said:
Handy when you're only connected to wifi (ie. on the Underground).

This, I get no signal at my step-dads.

Plus sending pics and videos are much easier. I have over a thousand pics in my whatsapp folder, imagine that at 20p MMS

$16bn though, damn, don't they know it's free on the play store?

estebanrey · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:47

Slam said:
Need more than sms messages to keep in touch nowadays, photos, video and audio... Plus you don't get unlimited overseas texts let alone multimedia sms messages

But unless you're connected to free wifi, you're still paying for the data usage.

Biohazard · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:49

estebanrey said:
But unless you're connected to free wifi, you're still paying for the data usage.

I get unlimited free data but only so many mms

Mr Gimp · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:53

Great. I actually like using WhatsApp, I guess that's gonna go to the crapper now its the hands of AdvertBook

Biohazard · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:55

Mr Gimp said:
Great. I actually like using WhatsApp, I guess that's gonna go to the crapper now its the hands of AdvertBook

Whatsbook?

airwave99 · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:56

I imagine they'd just merge it with Facebook Messenger, so we'll effectively lose a messaging platform.

Janesy B · 20 Feb 2014 at 00:01

Who says the app has no revenue? You either have to buy it or subscribe and there's millions of people that use it...

airwave99 said:
I imagine they'd just merge it with Facebook Messenger, so we'll effectively lose a messaging platform.

I see you read the link.

Skull · 20 Feb 2014 at 04:37

I've used whatsapp for years and never paid the 99p, nor has anyone else I know. It's the winrar of messaging.

Anyway, if facebook gets access to the data of 400+ million people's conversations and can link many of those to Facebook accounts they'll make lots of money from advertising. Whether that's worth $16bn in cash and $3bn in shares I suppose is a question that facebook's bean counters and IBs have answered "yes" to.