400,000,000 active users [0]
16,000,000,000 USD
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$40 per user
That's an incredible cost. We can assume Facebook is paying for the userbase, the app itself and it's infrastructure would basically run itself. It's less appealing when you realise that there's probably a miniscule fraction of WhatsApp users that don't have a Facebook account.
> WhatsApp will remain autonomous and operate independently. You can continue to enjoy the service for a nominal fee
> WhatsApp will remain autonomous and operate independently. You can continue to enjoy the service for a nominal fee
Now it makes even less sense.
[0]: http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2013/12/400-million-stori...