 |
| Facebook buying WhatsApp |
What happened?
Facebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock, as the world's largest social network looks for ways to boost its popularity, especially among a younger crowd.
WhatsApp is adding about a million users per day, Facebook co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said on his page on Wednesday.
"WhatsApp will complement our existing chat and messaging services to provide new tools for our community," he wrote on his Facebook page. "Since WhatsApp and (Facebook) Messenger serve such different and important users, we will continue investing in both."
WhatsApp is adding about a million users per day, Facebook co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said on his page on Wednesday.
"WhatsApp will complement our existing chat and messaging services to provide new tools for our community," he wrote on his Facebook page. "Since WhatsApp and (Facebook) Messenger serve such different and important users, we will continue investing in both."
 |
| WhatsApp Growth Statistics |
What is the Deal?
As part of the deal, WhatsApp co-founder and chief executive officer Jan Koum will join Facebook's board, and the social network will grant an additional $3 billion worth of restricted stock units to WhatsApp's founders, including Koum. That is on top of the $16 billion in cash and stock that Facebook will pay. Facebook promised to keep the WhatsApp brand and service, and pledged a $1 billion cash break-up fee if the deal falls through.
WhatsApp's employees will take home $3 billion in stock over four years
WhatsApp's employees will take home $3 billion in stock over four years
 |
| WhatsApp's Brian Acton and Jan Koum |
What is WhatsApp?
Founded five years ago, WhatsApp today claims a subscriber base of more than 450 million users and the fact that it has spent exactly $0 on marketing and doesn’t even employ a PR person or marketer; its growth all coming from users.WhatsApp only employs around 50 people total. At 32 engineers, that’s $500 million per engineer.
WhatsApp has built a leading and rapidly growing real-time mobile messaging service, with:Over 450 million people using the service each month;70% of those people active on a given day;Messaging volume approaching the entire global telecom SMS volume; and Continued strong growth, currently adding more than 1 million new registered users per day.
WhatsApp has built a leading and rapidly growing real-time mobile messaging service, with:Over 450 million people using the service each month;70% of those people active on a given day;Messaging volume approaching the entire global telecom SMS volume; and Continued strong growth, currently adding more than 1 million new registered users per day.
What happens to WhatsApp after the acquisition?
WhatsApp will continue to operate independently after the acquisition — separate from Facebook Messenger — but claims the deal "accelerates Facebook’s ability to bring connectivity and utility to the world. According to Kuam, users don't need to worry about ads "interrupting your communication." "There would have been no partnership between our two companies if we had to compromise on the core principles that will always define our company, our vision and our product," he said.
Interesting facts about WhatsApp !
- Founded five years ago !
The Biggest Buys Chart - It has spent exactly Rs. 0 on marketing !
- Doesn’t even employ a PR person or marketer !
- WhatsApp only employs around 50 people total !
- Now WhatsApp worths: Rs.118,000 Crore !
- That is, every WhatsApp user has a value of Rs. 3000 !
- Its growth all coming from users !
- Over 45 crore people using the service each month !
- 70% of those people active on a given day !
- Messaging volume approaching the entire global telecom SMS volume !
- Currently adding more than 1 million new registered users per day !
- Brian Acton Founder of WhatsApp, Interview Failed in Twitter and Facebook !
- Now the same Facebook made him Director board member and became Crorepati !
