Tuesday 4 March 2014

WhatsApp sold to Facebook

Hello everyone,

Whenever i have a free moment from my dissertation writing i always like to check what news is going one in the world. As a business student this is something i need to constantly be checking up on and keeping up to date with.

Recently i saw an article online about how Facebook has confirmed a deal to purchase WhatsApp. Facebook seems to be diving into all routes these days as a few years ago they also purchased the ever so popular Instagram App. Facebook announced that purchase of the purchase of the mobile message service WhatsApp in February, in a $19 billion deal that represents the social media company's biggest acquisition yet. I was interested to give the article a read not only because i use the App myself but also because it is something that can be raised in my Strategy and Change Management unit as Facebook are strategically changinging themselves to be dominate in their field. Clever clogs or what!

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, described five-year-old WhatsApp as an 'incredibly valuable' service that was well on its way to connecting 1 billion people around the world. The deal is a big bet for Facebook, which has until recently struggled to convince investors of its strategy for mobile. WhatsApp has more that 400 million users around the worlds and claims it is adding more that 1 million new registered users a day. To be honest, there is not one person i know who does not use the App themselves, i regularly use it and if you are connected to wifi abroad you can easily communicate around the globe. It allows unlimited free text-messaging and picture sending between users and is among the worlds most downloaded mobile apps. Facebook's successful bid comes after Google reportedly made a $1 billion offer for the company last year.

I think i need to start designing my own app…who knows, Facebook may want to purchase it from me in the future! Who wouldn't want over $1 billion in their bank account?!

What are your thoughts on the new acquisition.

Speak soon