If you can't beat them, buy them: Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $16 billion

WhatsApp, the hugely popular cross-platform messaging application, will belong to Facebook starting later this year. Mark Zuckerberg’s company today announced that it agreed to buy WhatsApp for a staggering $16 billion, including $12 billion worth of Facebook shares and $4 billion in cash.

According to Facebook, the acquisition will boost its “ability to bring connectivity and utility to the world.”

A few months ago, we told you that WhatsApp became more popular than Facebook’s messaging app. You know how the saying goes: if you can’t beat them, join them - or, in Facebook’s case, buy them.

At the moment, WhatsApp has more than 450 million monthly users combined on all important mobile platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry. The application is also available to some Asha and Symbian users.

Facebook made it clear that “WhatsApp's core messaging product and Facebook's existing Messenger app will continue to operate as standalone applications.”

Jan Koum, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO, will join Facebook’s Board of Directors.


source: Facebook