Facebook has a market cap of $173b for 1.2b users. If Facebook users are worth $144 each and they can monetize 450m WhatsApp users the same way, that would suggest the company is worth $65b to them.
I think you may be double-counting many hundreds of millions of users.....
What did your friends think the Messages app that comes with the phone did?
They didn't. In Germany, they were paying for regular text messages. They weren't using it. So even when iMessage went mainstream, they didn't know and still continued to not use Messages.
In my experiences both here and (especially) abroad, ignorance of technology is really the norm. It's why I always tell people here and on other threads that tech people here do not represent the knowledge of the masses. I spent about 30 minutes showing them all new stuff of iOS7 and other native functionality and they were just in awe at the things we all here take for granted.
To them, it's all about apps. None of them knew about FaceTime Audio. Took a few times to explain it to them before it kicked in.
The reason why whatsapp is so popular at least here in South America is that from the 40+ contacts that have whatsapp only 3 have iPhones. So it is much more convenient to just use whatsapp with all of them.
If they merge the two message systems and that allows us to send messages to people on Facebook too that would be an improvement.
Other than that I don't really see any positives with this buyout
At least Larry Page made the world a better place. I use Google everyday and I think I'm more knowledgable and effective as a human being because of it. In contrast, fanatic users of Facebook are often worse people because of their Facebook habit.
I am sure Larry is knowledgeable in your likes / dislikes too and provides you with effective Ads!
Which part of, "Facebook to buy messaging app WhatsApp for $16B", did you actually miss in the title AND in the article? It does not matter if Facebook is paying $4B in cash and $12B in stock. The amount still adds to $16B.
The next time you choose to stupidly respond to one of my posts, don't.
I case someone else doesn't respond to your limited knowledge, you don't know what you don't know. The $12B is stock transfer has not been described, and it would not surprise me if the stock transaction has some restrictions -- such restrictions are typical. The real value at this time is not known.
I think everybody is missing the point. Simply the original creators of FB are tired of searching/spying two different data centers, so they decided to combine them into one. The amount of money is irrelevant.
You mean the keyword 'including' refers to the later on mentioned $3B in additional stock? Strange way of using words, then again, English is a language I'll never understand properly.
$4B is obviously a ridiculous amount for this service, but I guess the widespread use is what sets it so high. I should've typed the 'only' in italic or something
Gotcha. I just find it repugnant these corporations exist and are ballooning Wall Street who is legally siphoning billions off of these web portal 2.0 sites.
I came back from Germany a few weeks ago. My friends there were all using WhatsApp on their iPhones. What was funny is that when I explained to them what iMessage does (including FaceTime Audio), they all said they had no idea the iPhone works that way so they all jettisoned WhatsApp. In addition, I trust Apple to keep my contact info secure versus have some 3rd-party company have access to my contact info.
The problem is iMessage is a closed system with no web, Windows, Android, or Linux client. iMessage is only good if you live in an all Apple world. It's a shame Apple refuses to open their API - I doubt they ever will.
I think everybody is missing the point. Simply the original creators of FB are tired of searching/spying two different data centers, so they decided to combine them into one. The amount of money is irrelevant.
Interesting, depending on the details you are referring to. Original creators? Are they not who they seem to be?
Spying? Ordinary Big Data spying, or something extraordinary and hidden? Please divulge.
I came back from Germany a few weeks ago. My friends there were all using WhatsApp on their iPhones. What was funny is that when I explained to them what iMessage does (including FaceTime Audio), they all said they had no idea the iPhone works that way so they all jettisoned WhatsApp. In addition, I trust Apple to keep my contact info secure versus have some 3rd-party company have access to my contact info.
It's a shame Apple refuses to open their API - I doubt they ever will.
if someone can figure out how opening up the iMessage API would help Apple's product sales business model then I'm sure they would be all ears.
The whole reason for iMessage's existence is to promote the sales of Apple devices, not to promote iMessage itself. Its about the product, not the service.
Comments
Facebook has a market cap of $173b for 1.2b users. If Facebook users are worth $144 each and they can monetize 450m WhatsApp users the same way, that would suggest the company is worth $65b to them.
I think you may be double-counting many hundreds of millions of users.....
What did your friends think the Messages app that comes with the phone did?
They didn't. In Germany, they were paying for regular text messages. They weren't using it. So even when iMessage went mainstream, they didn't know and still continued to not use Messages.
In my experiences both here and (especially) abroad, ignorance of technology is really the norm. It's why I always tell people here and on other threads that tech people here do not represent the knowledge of the masses. I spent about 30 minutes showing them all new stuff of iOS7 and other native functionality and they were just in awe at the things we all here take for granted.
To them, it's all about apps. None of them knew about FaceTime Audio. Took a few times to explain it to them before it kicked in.
If they merge the two message systems and that allows us to send messages to people on Facebook too that would be an improvement.
Other than that I don't really see any positives with this buyout
Really? Why?
At least Larry Page made the world a better place. I use Google everyday and I think I'm more knowledgable and effective as a human being because of it. In contrast, fanatic users of Facebook are often worse people because of their Facebook habit.
I am sure Larry is knowledgeable in your likes / dislikes too and provides you with effective Ads!
With that said, I fully respect your choice.
There's another tech stock crash coming...........
I'm afraid you are right, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Netflix will take tech down.
Yeah, right. Stock isn't real money.
If you agree, just give me $12B in FB stock. I'm sure FB stockholders won't mind either.
Bitcoins?
PhilBoogie,
For me 4 + 12 = 16. It may be different for you.
Which part of, "Facebook to buy messaging app WhatsApp for $16B", did you actually miss in the title AND in the article? It does not matter if Facebook is paying $4B in cash and $12B in stock. The amount still adds to $16B.
The next time you choose to stupidly respond to one of my posts, don't.
I case someone else doesn't respond to your limited knowledge, you don't know what you don't know. The $12B is stock transfer has not been described, and it would not surprise me if the stock transaction has some restrictions -- such restrictions are typical. The real value at this time is not known.
I trust Zuckerberg more than Page!
That's like saying I'd rather be shot than stabbed
I think everybody is missing the point. Simply the original creators of FB are tired of searching/spying two different data centers, so they decided to combine them into one. The amount of money is irrelevant.
That's like saying I'd rather be shot than stabbed
I hear ya ... what can I say ... I hate google that much!
I think you may be double-counting many hundreds of millions of users.....
Not to mention not a single web site I have ever socialized has ever seen a dollar out of my pocket, through any form of advertising.
You mean the keyword 'including' refers to the later on mentioned $3B in additional stock? Strange way of using words, then again, English is a language I'll never understand properly.
$4B is obviously a ridiculous amount for this service, but I guess the widespread use is what sets it so high. I should've typed the 'only' in italic or something
Gotcha. I just find it repugnant these corporations exist and are ballooning Wall Street who is legally siphoning billions off of these web portal 2.0 sites.
The problem is iMessage is a closed system with no web, Windows, Android, or Linux client. iMessage is only good if you live in an all Apple world. It's a shame Apple refuses to open their API - I doubt they ever will.
Interesting, depending on the details you are referring to. Original creators? Are they not who they seem to be?
Spying? Ordinary Big Data spying, or something extraordinary and hidden? Please divulge.
Edit: corrected typo on old Kai's stellar name.
Hoo… All right: guesses on when it’ll pop? I mean, we know Amazon and Google are the result of the bubble, but popping time, anyone? 2017?
But then I also remember that it was the "election" of the "president" was what ended the party. So you may not want to quote me on this.
Overrated. Did the Google guy that brokered the Moto acquisition move to Facebook?
LOL, nice comparison. By the time the proof is available, everyone will have forgotten about it.
I came back from Germany a few weeks ago. My friends there were all using WhatsApp on their iPhones. What was funny is that when I explained to them what iMessage does (including FaceTime Audio), they all said they had no idea the iPhone works that way so they all jettisoned WhatsApp. In addition, I trust Apple to keep my contact info secure versus have some 3rd-party company have access to my contact info.
It's a shame Apple refuses to open their API - I doubt they ever will.
if someone can figure out how opening up the iMessage API would help Apple's product sales business model then I'm sure they would be all ears.
The whole reason for iMessage's existence is to promote the sales of Apple devices, not to promote iMessage itself. Its about the product, not the service.
There is another $3 billion reserved in restricted stock, just not part of the initial purchase it seems. $16B + $3B = $19B.