Bricktop WhatsCrap hits the motherload

[Islandman]

Facebook to Buy WhatsApp, a Messaging Start-Up, in a $16 Billion Deal
By DAVID GELLES and VINDU GOEL

The frenzy to acquire fast-growing technology start-ups reached new heights on Wednesday as Facebook announced its largest acquisition ever, saying it would pay at least $16 billion for WhatsApp, a text messaging application with 450 million users around the world who pay little or no money for it.

The eye-popping price signals the lengths to which Facebook’s co-founder and chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, will go to protect his company’s turf as the dominant social network on the web, and is sure to fuel the debate on whether consumer Internet companies are overvalued.

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/02/...ype=blogs&_r=0

[Karl]

This would be great boom to consumers if...and only if, use remains free or 'dirt cheap'!!!!

...but yuh dun kno what a monopoly position has potential for....

[Islandman]

The monopoly threat is growing in high tech because it appears that the four horsemen of 21st century technology (Google, FaceBook, Apple and Amazon) are gobbling up every company that they perceive has technology that could potentially be disruptive.

Anti-trust regulators should keep a close eye on them.

[Karl]

Agreed!