Facebook Rachète Whatsapp (exposé En Anglais)

FACEBOOK OFFERS WHATSAPP FOR $19 BILLION

The messaging company WhatsApp bought by Facebook for $19 billion two days ago has become a global force, with 450 million users who find it an easy way to send messages across borders and between different types of mobile devices.

Since shortly, WhatsApp is one of the most important applications of instant messaging. Launched in 2009 by ex-Yahoo staffers Jan Koum and Brian Acton, the program allows users to send text and photo messages to each other via the Internet instead of through cellular service. WhatsApp currently has 450 million users and adds 1 million new users per day. Mark Zuckerberg said WhatsApp was the only highly used app he’d seen that gets greater daily engagement than Facebook.

WhatsApp is more dominant in countries outside the United States. 70 per cent of users send messages on WhatsApp every day, it is higher than on Facebook. It was used to send 600.000 photos, 200.000 voice messages and 100.000 video messages each day in 2013. Indeed, Facebook wanted to strike a blow in the high-tech market, it is the largest acquisition in the history of the company.

Mark Zuckerberg, leader of Facebook, first approached WhatsApp in the beginning of 2012 but only talking about the final deal a week ago. He said the acquisition would help Facebook in it’s strategy to “connect everyone in the world”. In addition, the boss and co-founder of WhatsApp, Jan Koum will continue to lead his app and enters in the board of directors of Facebook. WhatsApp will continue to operate as an independent brand, like Instagram, who bought by Facebook in 2012 for $715 million.

Finally, very happy of his purchase, Mark Zuckerberg said he will continue to expand its business up and publicize facebook worldwide to achieve to "connect everyone".

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