samus i am
Member
It's also missing a ton of features that the much more complete GChat app used to have. As it stands right now WhatsApp is a much more functional app.
Bloomberg Tech Reporter: Facebook to buy WhatsApp
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It's also missing a ton of features that the much more complete GChat app used to have. As it stands right now WhatsApp is a much more functional app.
Junior Mint
Member
How old are you?
I'm 25 and since university, every single person I've met at SFU or UBC has used it.
They're never going to see the color of that money again with WhatsApp. They're overpaying and that drop in after-hours trading says the markets think as much; $2B market cap loss.
But, the fact that they're willing to pay this much tells a lot about the company.
1. They're crazy concerned about being over being beaten in popularity by competing platforms, even if they aren't directly related.
2. They're willing to pay whatever it costs to stay relevant.
Interesting gamble.
But, the fact that they're willing to pay this much tells a lot about the company.
1. They're crazy concerned about being over being beaten in popularity by competing platforms, even if they aren't directly related.
2. They're willing to pay whatever it costs to stay relevant.
Interesting gamble.
I've never seen anyone use or even know about WhatsApp in real life, only on the internet. Unlike things like, say, SnapChat. I had no idea it was that popular
ComputerMKII
Banned
Holy shit at the price.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I'm a student at SFU right now. All FB Messengers.
I mean... everyone has the app, but no one ever uses it.
Looking at my contact list, 90% of people still have the "Hi there! I am using WhatsApp" status, which indicates to me that a lot of people installed it and forgot about it.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Pretty much just Koreans...... and the Philippines I think?
I'd actually give the edge to Line. Better stickers
Sounds like normal texting...
I guess the draw is that you can get a minimal texting plan from your carrier and just use Whatsapp?
Beautifully Shaped Monsters
Member
I have 4 different messaging programs on my phone, including WhatsApp. I guess it's ok, as long as it doesn't force me to get a Facebook id or something.
got damn
No need for login, once setup with your phone number you can text with everyone in your phonebook,
It is just THE GREATEST KILLERAPP OF ALL TIME.
Billions of people are already connected by email and email is free and already on every smartphone ever. But I guess I'm a dinosaur.
Not necessarily. I've never bothered to change the status yet I still use the app all the time.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I guess everyone I know just has every messaging app like I do, and use whatever they think the other person wants to use. Whenever I text schoolmates I use FB messenger, whenever I text Japanese friends I use Line, etc.
Since I never message anyone on whatsapp, I never get any messages on whatsapp. But maybe others do....
My little brother is a luddite, uninstalled all his IM and social media, and said "if you need something, email me".
Even though he has push email.... writing an email feels odd. It's meant for long form communication. I never message him.
Since I never message anyone on whatsapp, I never get any messages on whatsapp. But maybe others do....
My little brother is a luddite, uninstalled all his IM and social media, and said "if you need something, email me".
Even though he has push email.... writing an email feels odd. It's meant for long form communication. I never message him.
Kinky John
Member
handsomely?! Its time to buy an island!
Yeah but I don't have the email addresses of all my friends. Whatsapp lists all friends just over the number in my phonebook.
It's much faster and much better than email.
SpinningBirdKick
Banned
Not necessarily.
Facebook are playing the long game.
Realistically they're not interested in anything that WhatsApp has to offer but it's user base.
WhatsApp having 450million users world wide would pose a very real threat to facebook in future if those users were weaned onto facebook competitive like features.
Facebook have done the classic "terminator" move by taking out a potential future competitor before it has chance to become a real threat.
To secure Facebook's position as the goto social network for the foreseeable future $16b is cheap.
Buddha Beam
Banned
Yeah, it's ugly as sin. It's also really slow and bloated. It does have free calling though, which is nice for international calling. Unfortunately, the call quality is awful and it doesn't connect a lot of times. Meh.
Actually, there's also Line. That's really popular in Japan in particular but the rest of Asia in general.
To be fair, there is absolutely nothing innovative about WhatsApp. They just became the most popular of the text message replacement apps for whatever reason.
captainnapalm
Member
My whole family uses Whatsapp. Even my mom. Basically free text messaging and sending pics and video.
I'm betting Facebook will look to monetize this more intensely.
I'm betting Facebook will look to monetize this more intensely.
I'm in California. I've heard of WhatsApp, but never known anyone to use it and never tried it myself. Easily over 90% of the people I know have an iPhone, including all of my family. I haven't received a text message that wasn't an iMessage in about a year, with the exception of maybe one or two messages.
Pretty much just Koreans...... and the Philippines I think?
I'd actually give the edge to Line. Better stickers
Line and Kakaotalk. Facebook is the enemy. And Whatsapp is a joke compared to both
bearythebear
Member
I know that they are paying for "Users" (whatever that bullshit means), but $16 billion for a chat messenger is so crazy to me.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
They've never enforced the $1 price. Maybe they will now.
Lol @ all "welp, time to delete the app and go back to sms" reactions. Why?
Nothing will change in the near future, your data will still be stored on their servers. It literally won't make any difference to delete the app now. Also, the majority of everyday users will keep using it and not giving a single fuck about this news.
Nothing will change in the near future, your data will still be stored on their servers. It literally won't make any difference to delete the app now. Also, the majority of everyday users will keep using it and not giving a single fuck about this news.
Samurai_Heart
Member
Migrating to Line possibly forever, and that's not a bad thing tbh.
OverBlood 3
Banned
I knew I had Telegram installed on my phone for a reason...
This is not about monetizing.
This is about keep being one of the most important IT companies in the world.
Yes also in the android app.
Bad bad bad! The latest updates for the android facebook app required access to your SMS, no doubt for data mining for targeted adds. I disabled automatic updates for the app when I read that. No doubt they are going to datamine the shit out of your whatsapp conversations. I can already see the following whatsapp convo:
"Hey honey, what's for dinner tonight?"
"I was thinking pizza"
*pizza hut add appears on your facebook wall.
I'm not gonna stop using it as it is too ingrained in my life. It's one of the few smartphone features I use next to browsing. But this prospect is really shitty. I guess I'm just gonna have to lube up and take it.
"Hey honey, what's for dinner tonight?"
"I was thinking pizza"
*pizza hut add appears on your facebook wall.
I'm not gonna stop using it as it is too ingrained in my life. It's one of the few smartphone features I use next to browsing. But this prospect is really shitty. I guess I'm just gonna have to lube up and take it.
ReturnOfTheRAT
Member
19 Billion for something I've never encountered before. Amazing country we live in.
No it's more about that facebook is doing the same thing there doing with instagram making it closer together i don't have instagram but it will show what will happen in over time people will find a alternative after they hear this because we all like seperate things. Also i don't like it that facebook will get my personal phonenumber and going to do i think not so fun things ahead.
Operations
Member
AFAIK, that's only to confirm your phone number, which acts as your ID.
Because I don't need a corporation like FB prying into my life through my text messages.
I'm sorry, I don't trust them now that they're a public company.
Yup...TMI
Technosteve
Banned
what's the cash to stock ratio?
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