Facebook buys WhatsApp for $19 BILLION dollars

Business Insider - Facebook announced Wednesday that it is buying the messaging app WhatsApp for $12 billion in stock, $4 billion in cash and another $3 billion in restricted stock unites to be granted to WhatsApp's founders and employees over the next four years.

For those not familiar, WhatsApp is a real-time messaging service, that allows people from around the world to stay connected with friends and family. It currently has 450 million users worldwide. The app is free to install and users pay $0.99 every year. The app has never had ads, and that will continue. 

WhatsApp had this to say to it's users: "Here’s what will change for you, our users: nothing. WhatsApp will remain autonomous and operate independently. You can continue to enjoy the service for a nominal fee. You can continue to use WhatsApp no matter where in the world you are, or what smartphone you’re using. And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication. There would have been no partnership between our two companies if we had to compromise on the core principles that will always define our company, our vision and our product."

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