What’s Behind Facebook’s New Multi-Billion-Dollar WhatsApp Deal?

All about the $19 billion mobile messaging service.

What's in a Multi-Billion Dollar App? - Forget text messaging. Instant messenger may be making a comeback with Facebook’s $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp Messenger, a cross-platform mobile messaging app that allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. BET.com takes a look at Facebook’s latest business venture. —Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Daniel Reinhardt/DPA/LANDOV)

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What's in a Multi-Billion Dollar App? - Forget text messaging. Instant messenger may be making a comeback with Facebook’s $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp Messenger, a cross-platform mobile messaging app that allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. BET.com takes a look at Facebook’s latest business venture. —Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Daniel Reinhardt/DPA/LANDOV)

The Facebook Deal - Facebook revealed that it will pay WhatsApp $4 billion in cash and $12 billion in stock. WhatsApp's founders and staff will be eligible for another $3 billion in stock grants to be paid out if they remain employed by Facebook for four years.(Photo: Reuters/DADO RUVIC/LANDOV)

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The Facebook Deal - Facebook revealed that it will pay WhatsApp $4 billion in cash and $12 billion in stock. WhatsApp's founders and staff will be eligible for another $3 billion in stock grants to be paid out if they remain employed by Facebook for four years.(Photo: Reuters/DADO RUVIC/LANDOV)

Photo By Photo: Reuters/DADO RUVIC/LANDOV

The Back Story - WhatsApp is a five-year-old company that was founded in Silicon Valley, California, by two former Yahoo! geeks. The name is a play on the international common phrase: What’s up.(Photo: EPA/MARC MUELLER/LANDOV)

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The Back Story - WhatsApp is a five-year-old company that was founded in Silicon Valley, California, by two former Yahoo! geeks. The name is a play on the international common phrase: What’s up.(Photo: EPA/MARC MUELLER/LANDOV)

What Exactly Is WhatsApp? - WhatsApp allows you to do just that for sending text messages for free, no matter your service carrier, phone or plan, because WhatsApp uses the same Internet data plan you pay for Web browsing and email.(Photo: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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What Exactly Is WhatsApp? - WhatsApp allows you to do just that for sending text messages for free, no matter your service carrier, phone or plan, because WhatsApp uses the same Internet data plan you pay for Web browsing and email.(Photo: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Close Strong - Closed mouths don’t get fed, so don’t let all your excellent flirting techniques go to waste. While it would probably be ideal for him to ask you out then and there, if you’re genuinely interested and he’s been reciprocating your signals, don’t be afraid to ask for his number. Or put yours in his phone and make it clear that you’d like to get together soon. Either way, don’t walk away without encouraging next steps. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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I Don’t Understand. Is It Connected to My Phone? - WhatsApp is connected to phone numbers, not the phone. WhatsApp sends the actual messages over mobile broadband; that way if you change your phone and keep your number, WhatsApp contacts remain intact.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Which Phones Can Use WhatsApp? - WhatsApp Messenger is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia.(Photo: Tooga/GettyImages)

Photo By (Photo: Tooga/GettyImages)

How Is This Different From Other SMS Apps? - In addition to the traditional SMS and other apps like Twitter, Google, Microsoft and Skype, WhatsApp allows texters to start group chats, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages all with friends who have various plans and cellphone carriers.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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How Is This Different From Other SMS Apps? - In addition to the traditional SMS and other apps like Twitter, Google, Microsoft and Skype, WhatsApp allows texters to start group chats, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages all with friends who have various plans and cellphone carriers.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Can I Message Internationally? - Currently, WhatsApp is available in other countries and a select amount of languages; however they are looking for translators to make the app available globally.(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

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Can I Message Internationally? - Currently, WhatsApp is available in other countries and a select amount of languages; however they are looking for translators to make the app available globally.(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Who Is Using It? - With more than 450 users, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app for smart phones, according to OnDevice Research.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Who Is Using It? - With more than 450 users, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app for smart phones, according to OnDevice Research.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Before I Download the App, How Much Is It? - WhatsApp currently charges a dollar a year after giving customers their first year of use for free.(Photo: Jens Kalaene/DPA/LANDOV)

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Before I Download the App, How Much Is It? - WhatsApp currently charges a dollar a year after giving customers their first year of use for free.(Photo: Jens Kalaene/DPA/LANDOV)

Mark Zuckerburg - “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you,” said Zuckerburg after Jobs’s death.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Facebook and WhatsApp - Facebook always has something up its sleeve, so with its latest acquisition of WhatsApp and the hefty bill, we can be sure to see some exciting new ventures as Zuckerberg will try to continue to help the company grow.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)