WhatsApp updates Android app to let you mute groups for up to a century

Found yourself part of a group on WhatsApp you don’t want to hear from? Well, a new update for the messaging client on Android lets you mute a particular group for up to 100 years. It now even lets you hide notifications from the group past a week (a feature that wasn’t previously available). Perhaps leaving the group would’ve been an easier option. But if you don’t feel like offending anyone, then just mute away. The update isn’t up on Google Play yet so you’d have to download the app from WhatsApp’s site.

Source: GSMArena

WhatsApp to include voice capability

Facebook’s recent acquisition, WhatsApp Inc., plans to include voice functionality into the application in the second quarter of 2014. WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum said at Mobile World Congress the feature will be available first on Android and iOS devices and then Windows and BlackBerry.

“We want to make sure people always have the ability to stay in touch and call their friends, families and loved ones and do it easily and affordably,” Koum said.

Source: Toronto Star

Breaking: WhatsApp sold to Facebook for US $19 Billion in cash and stock

Owners of popular cross-platform WhatsApp mobile messaging app resisted selling the company to Google a year ago for US $1 Billion stating numerous times that they were not for sale. Well, all of that has changed today as Facebook has purchased WhatsApp for cash and stock. This causes a tidal shift in the messaging landscape and gives Facebook access to 430 million WhatsApp users and the presence in mobile that they've long desired. 

Specfics of the deal need to be formalized but the transaction involves $12 billion in Facebook stock and $4 billion in cash for WhatsApp. WhatsApp's founders and employees will also get $3 billion in restricted stock.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says WhatsApp is on its way to 1 billion global users. This is huge global push for Facebook since WhatsApp is a familiar and trusted platform right now. Facebook also purchased popular photo sharing service Instagram $ 1 Billion in 2012. Facebook's stock fell 5% in after hours trading following the news of the acquisition. Some user may not relish Facebook owning their mobile messaging app, competitors include BlackBerry Messenger, which was the originator of this type of free SMS, voice and photo-capable messaging application. BBM is currently cross platform for BlackBerry, iOS and Android.

WhatsApp introduces Voice Messages

WhatsApp now allows your lovely voice to be heard by your friends and loved ones with its new Voice Messages feature. The new voice recording function has been made available across WhatsApp’s different platforms, including iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Nokia. You can learn more about the features here or check the video above.