On Wednesday, Facebook bought fast-growing
mobile messaging application, WhatsApp for $19 billion dollar and inventory in
a milestone cope that places the biggest online community nearer to the heart
of crowd and it bring younger users into the flip. The transaction involves $4 billion in cash, $12 billion in stock and $3
billion in restricted stock that vests over several years.
Zuckerberg and Koum on the conference call
did not say how the company would make money beyond a $1 annual fee, which is
not charged for the first year. "The right strategy is to continue to
focus on growth and product," Zuckerberg
said. How the service will pay for itself is not yet clear.
Zuckerberg and
Koum said that WhatsApp will continue to operate independently, and promised to
continue its policy of no advertising. WhatsApp
was founded by former Yahoo employees Brian Acton and Jan Koum in 2009 took its
name from a play on the phrase "What's Up," according to its website.
The stated mission was to build a better alternative to traditional SMS
messaging in a world where Smartphone were clearly becoming ubiquitous. The
deal provides Facebook entree to new users, including teens who eschew the
mainstream social networks but prefer WhatsApp and rivals, which have exploded
in size as private messaging takes off. On last day, the Menlo Park,
Calif.-based company announced a record $19 billion for messaging service
WhatsApp, instantly taking its cofounders Jan Koum and Brian Acton into the
realm of 10-figure fortunes.
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