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Google rumored to be buying WhatsApp for $1 billion

posted by Alan F. / Apr 07, 2013, 8:00 PM

Google rumored to be buying WhatsApp for $1 billion

Screenshots from WhatsApp

According to anonymous sources who are said to be close to the negotiations, Google is looking to purchase cross-platform messaging app WhatsApp. According to these sources, the WhatsApp team is pushing hard for a price around $1 billion. The idea is for Google to tie up all of its messaging services in a project called Babel and Mountain View could use the WhatsApp team to help it behind the scenes with the technology. Last summer, Google paid slightly under $25 million to purchase iOS email client Sparrow mostly to pick up some much needed talent on Google's part.

There is no guarantee that a deal between WhatsApp and Google can be hammered out. Last December the two were said to be discussing an acquisition which never made it past the talking stage. At that time, Facebook was also said to be interested in the messaging app. Users of WhatsApp pay $1 for the service with iOS users paying at the time of download while Android users pay after a free first year. Not only is it the second most popular paid app in the Apple App Store, it carried an incredible 18 billion messages on New Year's Eve. Some estimates have the app pulling in about $100 million a year in revenue.

source: AppleInsider

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65 Comments

1. nobelset

Posts: 270; Member since: Oct 17, 2012

Wow... But isn't a billion dollars too Much?

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:06 PM 15

22. AnTuTu

Posts: 1621; Member since: Oct 14, 2012

Yes it is too much. I think its worth developing their own App.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 9:22 PM 8

40. saiki4116

Posts: 413; Member since: Mar 31, 2011

Google will benefit from the existing subscriber base of What's app..

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 1:40 AM 8

61. Abbath

Posts: 99; Member since: Sep 16, 2012

Why start from scratch in the crowding world of similar apps

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 10:14 AM 1

25. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

they will change some stuff in app and even name i guess.......!!!

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 9:31 PM 1

34. omar300

Posts: 210; Member since: Jun 24, 2012

google doesnt do that, they buy stuff for resource not for actual item.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 10:34 PM 2

55. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

let see what they do after own it......!!!

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 8:36 AM 3

3. Ninetysix

Posts: 2965; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

Why innovate when you can buy?

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:09 PM 13

6. iushnt

Posts: 3155; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Yaa apple have been doing this from the very beginning.. They innovated nothing, just bought licenses and companies and now other companies are doing the same way.. But it doesn't harm us.. :)

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:15 PM 16

11. Timmehor

Posts: 599; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

Google bought Android :)

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:30 PM 13

12. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

Bought is a strong word, give it another try.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:34 PM 1

13. Timmehor

Posts: 599; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

1.Acquire (something) by paying for it; buy. They bought it, but Google did work hard on developing it.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:37 PM 13

28. sifusky

Posts: 2; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

you think Android could of been what they are today without Google? Doubt it.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 10:07 PM 8

30. Timmehor

Posts: 599; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

I don't think that at all, I never said that. Google has done an amazing job at branding and developing Android.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 10:27 PM 5

56. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

because of Search Engine

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 8:37 AM 3

36. Hemlocke unregistered

Apple was actually founded by guys who made things that others didn't. Google's past? Stolen technology and purchased technology. Take off the rose-colored glasses, dude, your boys at Google aren't miracle workers or saints. If they were, they wouldn't pay the least amount in taxes of any of the top U.S. technology corporations.

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 12:06 AM 2

46. Timmehor

Posts: 599; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

Well the two original Google guy's created the largest simple search engine through carefully calculated mathematical equations. It's amazing how Google has come from a little search engine with a cute multicolored logo to one of the biggest technology companies on Earth. It's the new Microsoft.

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 3:47 AM 1

47. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

And Stole whatever they couldn't buy ... for reasons not within their control.

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 5:55 AM 0

38. TechBizJP08

Posts: 495; Member since: Mar 25, 2013

More like,if you can't beat them. Buy Them!! xD

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 12:34 AM 1

4. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Looks like the WP8 version will never be good. Not sure what this means for the bb10 version though. I wonder if they will rename it. Google what's up? Or Google message? Or Google Messenger? Or Google SMS?

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:10 PM 5

9. johnkob14

Posts: 8; Member since: Aug 23, 2012

Make Google voice better hopefully

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:21 PM 3

39. Deaconclgi

Posts: 405; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

gMessage.

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 12:37 AM 1

5. Timmehor

Posts: 599; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

That's a large amount of money for WhatsApp, too much. If this is true, those developers must be happy. Very happy.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:12 PM 8

24. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

maybe unhappy for WP, because google are not allowing their apps on WP platform so if they buy whatsapp then for WP it's not good men.....!!! I hope google support their apps on WP soon.......!!! Evil Google, they r not seeing their users, but they r seeing WP users......!!!

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 9:27 PM 3

35. hate_dc

Posts: 10; Member since: Dec 26, 2012

bcuz window didnt bring also there apps in in play store...exmple microsoft office...and one more thing window the one who start the war by making news of malware in andriod os.

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 12:03 AM 3

48. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

M$ pumping money into DELL to kill UBUNTU. Why not complain about that ?

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 5:56 AM 2

52. GadgetsMcGoo

Posts: 168; Member since: Mar 15, 2013

WP could just put in a Virtual Machine to run Android apps. Problem solved. That could also put down another nail into Apple's iOS coffin. If every other mobile OS starts supporting Google Apps....

posted on Apr 08, 2013, 7:51 AM 0

7. harsh_doshi

Posts: 36; Member since: Aug 27, 2012

if this happens ill gladly stop using whatsapp because I am sure it wont get updates on wp8(they don't see enough users) , on Symbian (a part time phone I still like it, and yes it still gets updates from whatsapp) and bb10 (not sure if they see users there) if they do buy it they would again make it only for just 2 platforms(ios and android). I am sorry but I am against this

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:16 PM 7

33. grahaman27

Posts: 364; Member since: Apr 05, 2013

its for the greater good.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 10:31 PM 0

14. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

I don't believe this story. Just about everything this app can do, Google Voice can do better, much better. GV UI is cleaner and more refine. Moreover, the integration with Android offer for a better experience.

posted on Apr 07, 2013, 8:39 PM 2

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