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Facebook to Buy WhatsApp for 16 Billion

posted by Dopefish on Thursday February 20 2014, @05:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the when-will-this-darn-bubble-pop-already? dept.

lubricus writes "Facebook announced plans to acquire WhatsApp for four billion cash, plus 12 billion in Facebook shares.

Additionally, WhatsApp employees and founders will receive three billion in restricted stock which will vest in four years. Facebook also agreed to a one billion dollar break up fee.

WhatsApp says they have message volume which approaches the global SMS volume, and hope to have one billion users. Even at those figures, Facebook is paying $16 per user.

I'm guessing WhatsApp will send Snapchat developers a cake."

 
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  • (Score: 1) by Darth Turbogeek on Thursday February 20 2014, @05:48AM

    by Darth Turbogeek (1073) on Thursday February 20 2014, @05:48AM (#3298)

    Yeah, I'm sure this honestly just a redundany comment but seriously, this is stupid money for something I cant see the value in..... In fact I've never even heard of the app in question which also surprise me, I usually hear about the apps before they get huge money offered. So I suppose because I've never heard of said app would explain why I have no idea what the value is, which I knnow someone will point out.... but still, it seems like stupid huge cash to plonk down.

    What on earth are Facebook looking for here?

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by chris.alex.thomas on Thursday February 20 2014, @08:09AM

    by chris.alex.thomas (2331) on Thursday February 20 2014, @08:09AM (#3372)

    just imagine the number of text messages sent between all of those users, which they can now start to relate against facebook accounts, making it more sure what things you like, making sure you get more targetted advertising, I was having this conversation this morning and to be honest, as delusional as this sounds, it actually makes a little bit of sense.

    also, on mobile, facebook or whatsapp are the two "go to" apps I use for messaging, hangouts with my gf cause she doesn't have a smart phone, so it's basically free chatting.

    so you can expect them to technically merge both networks together in the next 12 months, along with analyse all that juicy traffic, looking for keywords to better target you, of course, you'll never buy anything, but if 1% does, it might make a shit-ton of money.

    so from some delusional advertising marketing person's mind, that makes a lot of sense...I'm not sure how $16 beilllllion is justified....but ok....not my money...some guys just got very rich and can go to their next venture knowing their job was done....they got rich...oh yeah and people got a nice chat application too.