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What's up with WhatsApp?

2/23/2014

3 Comments

 
When former Yahoo engineer Brian Acton was turned down by Twitter and Facebook when job hunting four years ago, he didn't give up. Instead he and a colleague worked to create WhatsApp, an app that just sold to Facebook for 19 billion dollars. How the tables have turned, eh? 
       A question I found myself wondering, when I heard this news, was "why WhatsApp?" It seems to be just like the many other chat apps on the market, the sole difference being this one cost me  a buck on the App Store.  People around the web are fearful of the insertion of ads by Facebook into their currently ad-free new purchase. According to "Facebook's WhatsApp Acquistion Explained," the reasons for the biggest start-up acquisition to date are pretty clear. Through WhatsApp, users send 500 million pictures daily, a staggering amount that overshadows Facebook by 150 million. Out of fear of being forgotten, Facebook is attempting to stay relevant by owning the apps that have potential to replace it one day. Another interesting point behind the purchase is that Facebook wants to know what you're talking about and with whom. By owning this hugely popular chat app, Facebook just bought it's way into the "dark social" communications. 
       And a point I find to be the most positive and arguably most important is the concept of connecting the globe. WhatsApp is hugely popular globally, and by purchasing into something that is already a huge success on different continents, Facebook is giving itself a way to apprehend these growing markets. 
In reality, Facebook probably just wants to know what you like so they can continue their aggressive targeted advertising and collect your private information.  

#BamaMC495
3 Comments
Brittany Day
2/23/2014 02:05:09 pm

Yes! What is up with WhatsApp? That is what I was asking myself last week when my Twitter feed was being blown up with stories about Facebook buying WhatsApp. I had heard of it but never fully understood why people liked it so much. I looked it up to see what cool features it MUST have since it was worth somewhere near $16 billion. Apparently you can download it on any device and the first year is free. After that it is only 99 cents annually. It uses data but there is no additional cost to message users who do not have the same cell carrier as yourself. It seems like a pretty cool App but I do not personally have any use for it. I have to admit that even after all my research on it I am still asking, "What's up with WhatsApp?"

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Tylar Pelton link
2/23/2014 02:56:47 pm

I have known about WhatsApp for about a year now. I actually downloaded the App when my friend traveled to England. She made me download it so we could keep in touch while she was out of the country without having to pay the international call fees. I think it is a helpful way to keep in contact with people, but I do not think it was worth 19 billion dollars.

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Robert Hester link
3/10/2014 10:20:42 am

I think WhatsUp app added value to Facebook. WIth the purchase in the billions Facebook not only can be more diverse, but add another source of revenue.

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    Stories, ideas & opinions from an inquisitive traveler working  to define marketing & PR in the digital age. An infrequent yogi with a passion for food, people, the planet, & everything in between.  

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