Facebook buys whatsapp for £16 billion

big brother 9 · 20/02/14 - 03:17

Facebook have bought whatsapp for £16 billion. Wonder if it will change much?

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/127378-facebook-buys-whatsapp-messaging-service-for-16-billion

jenzie · 20/02/14 - 03:17

and no one else cares

darkjedimaster · 20/02/14 - 03:28

Oh great, I can just imagine there being oops there has been a problem when you try to send a message.

scruffpot · 20/02/14 - 03:36

I can understand the purchase as its probably good business sense for both companies.
But I would like to see WA stay a separate product from FB and not have to be tied into FB to use WA, or have FB to have access to your phones details.
Having recently deleted my FB account I don't want to have to go back to FB.

But we shall see what happens, if it happens and FB gets really integrated in WA there are lots of other alternative apps out there.

TheWireRules · 20/02/14 - 03:38

Facebook can jog on if they try and integrate it.

nafanny29 · 20/02/14 - 03:42

And teens will move on to the next cool thing before facebook can say
"give me 5"

[Deleted User] · 20/02/14 - 04:20

I don't get whatsapp. It's just another messaging thing, why not text someone instead?

BRITLAND · 20/02/14 - 04:28

paperplanes_ wrote: »

I don't get whatsapp. It's just another messaging thing, why not text someone instead?

Because it's free

macsmurray · 20/02/14 - 04:28

Was it not $16 billion? Which is not £16 billion.

jsmith99 · 20/02/14 - 04:31

What's whatsapp? I've never heard of it.

Gary_LandyFan · 20/02/14 - 04:34

I wonder how long it will take them to ruin it and turn into a Facebook app, just like they did with Snaptu?

Snaptu was such a great app before they bought it, allowing access to Facebook, Twitter and various other websites.

woot_whoo · 20/02/14 - 04:35

jsmith99 wrote: »

What's whatsapp? I've never heard of it.

It's an instant messaging app for smartphones. Like texting, but free (or an annual 69p prescription) and you can send pictures and videos.

Gary_LandyFan · 20/02/14 - 04:35

jsmith99 wrote: »

What's whatsapp? I've never heard of it.

It a messaging service that uses the internet.

Basically think of text messaging over the internet without each message costing the person money.

Gary_LandyFan · 20/02/14 - 04:37

paperplanes_ wrote: »

I don't get whatsapp. It's just another messaging thing, why not text someone instead?

Because when you send someone a message it cost 10-16p (roughly) per each message unless you have free text messages on your tarriff.

Whatsapp uses the internet to send messages, so doesn't cost per message, just uses a bit of data.

BelfastGuy125 · 20/02/14 - 04:38

This smacks of just buying up the competition.

Whatsapp was getting really popular. Now it will just be integrated into Facebook most likely and everyone will leave it for something else.

habby · 20/02/14 - 04:39

I like keeping WhatsApp for more private things ;-) They've got their own messenger. Why do they need another one?

Leeah · 20/02/14 - 04:53

Ffs, noooooooooo

[Deleted User] · 20/02/14 - 04:53

habby wrote: »

I like keeping WhatsApp for more private things ;-) They've got their own messenger. Why do they need another one?

If FaceBook buy it, it means that Twitter or Yahoo or Microsoft can't.

TelevisionUser · 20/02/14 - 05:12

scruffpot wrote: »

I can understand the purchase as its probably good business sense for both companies.
But I would like to see WA stay a separate product from FB and not have to be tied into FB to use WA, or have FB to have access to your phones details.
Having recently deleted my FB account I don't want to have to go back to FB.

But we shall see what happens, if it happens and FB gets really integrated in WA there are lots of other alternative apps out there.

My money is on Facebook not being able to resist the urge to meddle, to fix something that isn't broken, to commercialise WhatsApp, to harvest personal details and sell them on and to raise the subs (which could put off many younger people who might not yet have any independent earning power).

CrazyLoop · 20/02/14 - 05:14

paperplanes_ wrote: »

I don't get whatsapp. It's just another messaging thing, why not text someone instead?

Because you can text internationally for free, so it's not just 'another messaging thing'. It was the first (or one of the first) of its kind.

[Deleted User] · 20/02/14 - 05:15

Gary_LandyFan wrote: »

Because when you send someone a message it cost 10-16p (roughly) per each message unless you have free text messages on your tarriff.

Whatsapp uses the internet to send messages, so doesn't cost per message, just uses a bit of data.

Ah fair enough, I suppose it'll be more useful to pay as you go customers.

BRITLAND wrote: »

Because it's free

Ah I have iMessage so that's not really an issue with me/. I can see why people without the unlimited texting would find it helpful then, thanks

TheTruth1983 · 20/02/14 - 05:56

Absolutely ridiculous valuations for these companies/services. It is quite a large tech bubble that is forming and when it pops, it will not be pretty.

dave clarke · 20/02/14 - 11:25

paperplanes_ wrote: »

Ah fair enough, I suppose it'll be more useful to pay as you go customers.

Ah I have iMessage so that's not really an issue with me/. I can see why people without the unlimited texting would find it helpful then, thanks

But u can only iMessage iPhones whatsapp does any mobile with internet

Kalmia · 20/02/14 - 11:53

I stopped using Whatsapp about a year ago and started using a similar app called LINE instead as it is faster, more reliable and is great for group chats. I'm glad I did now Facebook are getting involved.

Eventually everything will be owned by either Facebook or Google

[Deleted User] · 20/02/14 - 11:53

Facebook changes too many things too often for this to be considered a good thing. I will delete this app now.

Lollytroll · 20/02/14 - 13:04

Was not happy to read about this. Love my whatsapp as I have a lot of friends abroad and I love being able to text them for free. I dread to think what Facebook are going to do with the app. Hoping they leave well alone

Hey there!

Quick Links

Facebook buys whatsapp for £16 billion

Comments