mmorgan
What I don't get is if you go to the WhatsApp website they talk about their mission is to avoid writing applications for advertising...maybe I'm confused but isn't the whole Facebook business model based on advertising?
I think the guy(s) that sold their company are to be congratulated though.
Regards,
Good observation.
I'm guessing think FB sees WhatsApp not so much as advertising sales revenue, but market metrics revenue. They can sell that info to the marketroids, who'll use that, maybe extrapolate some conclusions via your social circles, and whammo - 'how the hell does GC know I'm looking for an SG?' There's a bit of play both ways.
FB's been hammered in the money-monger press for being weak on mobile. It's a monster bet - if it goes south there'll be fireworks.
I like the guy who sold though, he only took 3 billion in stock, the remaining 13 billion in cold hard cash.
I'm not sure if Zuck himself was worth as much at the end of FB's IPO....