So Facebook is buying Whatsapp, and nothing changes - for how long?

Facebook today announced that it will acquire WhatsApp, a mobile messaging company, for US$16 billion plus an additional US$3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp's founders and employees that will vest over four years subsequent to closing.   

Source: WhatsApp website.

WhatsApp is popular in Asia and the Middle East, and reports that over 450 million people use the service each month, with more than 1 million new users registering every day. 

According to Facebook, the acquisition supports Facebook and WhatsApp's shared mission to bring more connectivity and utility to the world by delivering core internet services efficiently and affordably.  

"WhatsApp is on a path to connect 1 billion people. The services that reach that milestone are all incredibly valuable," said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Founder and CEO. 

Jan Koum, WhatsApp Co-founder and CEO, said, "WhatsApp's extremely high user engagement and rapid growth are driven by the simple, powerful and instantaneous messaging capabilities we provide. We're excited and honoured to partner with Mark and Facebook as we continue to bring our product to more people around the world."


Facebook noted that WhatsApp will follow the Instagram model, fluorishing in "an environment where independent-minded entrepreneurs can build companies, set their own direction and focus on growth while also benefiting from Facebook's expertise, resources and scale". 

For the foreseeable future, Facebook said WhatsApp's brand will be maintained; its headquarters will remain in Mountain View, California, and Koum will join Facebook's Board of Directors; while WhatsApp's core messaging product and Facebook's existing Messenger app are to continue to operate as standalone applications.     

I know of people with two Whatsapp numbers, one for each phone; so 450 million accounts may well work out to much fewer than 450 million users. The numbers don't dilute the beauty of WhatsApp however. The app is like a calculator, good for just a few things, but these are precisely the things you need. 

It has basically replaced my email. If I have a grouse, it is that it only works on one device at a time. I would much rather that it is like Skype, available and synchronised on all devices.

And while Facebook says WhatsApp's 'core messaging' product will be separate from Facebook's messaging app, it says nothing about the peripheral messaging products. When you buy something for as much as US$19 billion, you need to find some way to get a return on the money spent.

In an environment where people adopt an app because it is private and has no ads, how far can you go without changing the product?