Facebook to Acquire WhatsApp for $19 Billion

WhatsAppGrowth

In 2012 Facebook acquired Instagram in a deal which was its biggest acquisition yet at $1bn! Now the social network giant has acquired the popular messaging app, WhatsApp for a whopping $19 billion in cash and stock.

WhatsApp currently has over 450 million monthly users and growing and is poplar mostly with teenagers and/or anyone looking to avoid text message charges.  It allows users to send messages over internet connections hence avoiding text messaging fees. The company claims it is currently registering one million new users a day.

The acquisition by Facebook includes $4bn in cash and approximately $12 billion worth of Facebook shares, plus an additional $3 billion in stock to WhatsApps founders and employees at a later date. WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum will also join the board of directors at Facebook.

What do you think about this acquisition? was it worth it? How do you think Facebook would integrate WhatsApp into its social network services? Leave your comments below.

Source: BBC

Victor Nneji

Tech Fanatic. Enrolled on a Computing for Business course at Aston University, Birmingham. Attended Dowen College Lagos. Nigerian. Follow me on twitter @Vicneji.

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