Google Close to Acquiring WhatsApp for $1 Billion?

[flameproof]

I don't like WhatsApp

WhatsApp is totally pointless if you have no friends.

 

[alexN350z]

A billion dollars for an instant messaging app? How could it POSSIBLY be worth that when so many of them exist and how easy they are to make.

It is just easy to make in theory. However, if you seriously create an app for going to public, there are all kinds of scenarios that you have to consider making things not so easy.

 

[NewAnger]

WhatsApp is totally pointless if you have no friends.

And pointless if you have friends who don't use the app.

 

[roxxette]

And pointless if you have friends who don't use the app.

 

[Max(IT)]

I want to know exactly how Whatsapp became so popular. I think they did some very clever hacking there... like put it out for free until you have critical mass, then start charging a small amount of money for it.

I know for a fact that most people here in SE Asia never paid for it. There are or were free versions. Maybe it's free on Android, but 99ct on iPhones, rising on the network effect? Something like that.

Line and Kik are nicer designed and also cross platform but not as popular overseas.

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iMessage is dumb. Half the time it doesn't work and messages revert back to text messages.

Also - Apple does not get communications at all. A phone is only useful if other people have a phone also. The larger the user base, the more valuable. So this is NOT something to use to differentiate your platform - because limiting to one platform automatically makes it less valuable than any competitor.

I don't know where you live, but I've SMS disabled on my message app in the iPhone 5 and iMessages are delivered worldwide when I'm within data or wifi coverage.

 

[Bantz]

Say hello to tons of ads on WhatsApp

Im confused about this? None of the Google Apps have adverts

 

[NewAnger]

Im confused about this? None of the Google Apps have adverts

That's right, I can't think of any Google Android appa that have ads. Google + doesn't, calendar doesn't, Google maps doesn't. Not sure what Google apps do except for YouTube but most video sites have ads to pay the bills.

 

[wschutz]

AT&T offers unlimited text messages. Unfortunately they ONLY offer that, which I don't want to pay for, so i have no text plan. This would help me use texts even less (free texting to a larger % of people i know).

I would want a damn worldwide text messages... the cost of a text is so ridiculous that is neligible but telcos have made (and still make) a hell of a lot of profit for each text and thanks to apps like WhatsApp and similar they offer those unlimited options (but still no worldwide texting).

It'd be funny if Apple responded with iMessage for Android (not their style, I know...)

They will if they see their market threatened... currently I barely use iMessage with my friends even if I know they have an iPhone. WhatsApp is available for all platforms (and it's a pity it's not available as a desktop application although time will make it available there too...) so I'd rather use something I know for sure they have than hoping for the 'send' button to turn blue...

 

[thleeal]

.

Apple and open sourcing in the same sentence? lol.

indeed, facetime and imessage were originally intended and touted with the intent of being cross platform.

 

[JAT]

What's cool is the guy that created it started right here on MacRumors.

You mean...this is where his folks had sex?

 

[adamtore]

Of course.

In many countries, it is illegal to harvest numbers without people opting in. Just like it is illegal to spam people by getting their email address off the internet. Signing up for WhatsApp can turn into an opt in, if they put clearly in T&C that they reserve the rights to send ads to you at their own discretion.

Also, why harvest from Yellow Pages? There is no point of sending ads that are not targeted. By parsing the text you send to your friends, they can target you with specific ad (see gmail, google search etc.).

By many countries you mean the states? Cause in the EU, all that is public. Hell I have insurance companies calling the day after I bought a car. So, guess the US isnt as free as it claims it is.

ps. I can have my neighbors tax income, vehicle ownership, insurance company, his passport picture and even some of his felony records sent to me.

All I am saying is, information is free for grabs and I have nothing to hide. If el goog makes som cash of it and still delivers great products I am fine with it.

 

[Rossatron]

Well, a lot of my friends use it for its group messaging capability. But now with all the unlimited texts offered they'd be hard put to show the app worth the subscription. Anyway, if google buys it and fill it with ads than its bye bye whatsapp

 

[samcraig]

Im confused about this? None of the Google Apps have adverts

Don't be confused. Comments like his come from ignorance of understanding that Google doesn't have ads in their Apps.

It's either ignorance of that fact - or it's the typical "go to" line anytime Google is mentioned in a thread.