Multi-platform messaging service WhatsApp will be acquired by Facebook for US$16 billion in cash and stock. They are also throwing in additional US$3 billion in restricted stocks to WhatsApp employees which will be vested across a period of 4 years.
In terms of operation, WhatsApp will still run independently similar to Instagram which they have acquired for US$1 billion 2 years ago. So this means that WhatsApp would continue to thrive alongside its Facebook’s Messenger service.
According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, WhatsApp is on the path of connecting a billion people, a milestone that’s incredibly valuable. The instant messaging service currently has 450 million active users a month and it is not surprising that it has become a huge disruptor to the conventional SMS service. It is also among the first instant messaging service to support multi-platforms such as iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Symbian, makes it appealing as primary communication tool. The growth over the past few years have been tremendous for WhatsApp and even earlier messaging pioneers like BBM were forced to open up their doors to other platforms.
