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.  

WhatsApp Messenger now available for BlackBerry Z10

At long last, the popular WhatsApp cross-platform messaging app is available for the BlackBerry Z10. Considered one of the first major third-party apps for BB10 and a must-have on any device, WhatsApp is available for free. BlackBerry Z10 users (and users of older BlackBerry devices) will now be able to join iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Symbian users in the biggest cross-platform chat experience available now. Hit jump for the full release.

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SourceCode: Why WhatsApp shouldn't sell to Facebook

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

iMessage is great, if you're on iOS. BBM is superb, if you use a BlackBerry smartphone. These messaging solutions keep people connected through WiFi or data networks without the high cost associated with SMS messages. WhatsApp is a cross-platform global smartphone solution that works across all major devices  and there were rumours today that Facebook was looking to buy it.

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