Whatsapp is a free and simple messaging app that helps the people to connect with each other. Additionally, it allows the users to send voice calls, video calls, share docs, location and other media. However, in order to run this app, we need an active internet connection over cellular network. The app is available in Android,IOS and windows also.It is known to be the third most popular social network worldwide.
Following are some of the intersting and rare facts about WhatsApp you need to know. Here are as below.
- Who founded the app and when?
- WhatsApp was founded by Brian Acton, an American computer programmer and internet entrepreneur. And Jan Koum, an ukarine American entrepreneur and computer programmer.
- Both the founders were the former employees of Yahoo. They even applied for their jobs at Facebook but were rejected.
- On February 24, 2009 exactly 10 years ago, whatsapp was born by the aforementioned founders.
- How the name comes out as Whatsapp?
- After purchasing an iPhone and realising the potential of the app. Industry on the App. Store. Koum and Acton began to share ideas with their close friend. Further they went to an iPhone developer, Russia developer Igor Solomennikov. Koum named the app to sound like “Whats-up”. He incorporated WhatsApp Inc. on February 24,2009 in California.
- Who acquired the Whatsapp and for how much?
- Facebook has acquired the Whatsapp app on Feb 19, 2014 for about $19 billion U.S. if we segregate the acquisition amount then the $4 Billion was paid in cash, $12 Billion in Facebook shares and $3 Billion in restricted stock units.
- No Ads! No Games! No Gimmicks !
- Both the founders always wanted to develop a simple user interface app. That aims on just one specific significant feature and no other gimmicks that deviates from the main purpose. This is the only reason why both the founders koum and Acton delivers a note that reads “ No Ads! No Games! No Gimmicks!” on his desk until today.
- The company spent zero on marketing !
- Brian Actons and Jan Koum didn’t believe in investing a penny on the marketing due to their hatered towards ads. They didn’t even employed any PR or any marketing staff. The millions which they could invest on marketing, they prefer to choose investing on the development department with resources to create the best messaging platform.
- How many workers are there in the company?
- Most of you would expect that a billionaire company has an employee base of thousands or more. But wait, you will be surprised to know that the company managed to build a messaging empire with only 55 Employees and 50 Engineers.
- WhatsApp is worth more than the GDP of some countries !
- Iceland, japan are some of the countries to have lower GDP than the whatsapp market value. It appears that whatsapp market value has exceeded the GDP of numerous countries around the world.
- WhatsApp is banned in 12 countries.
- WhatsApp is considered to be the most banned app in the world. It is banned in 12 countries such as China, Bangladesh,Iran,North Korea, Syria, UAE and others. Facebook comes in the second place which is banned in seven countries. There are six countries around the world which can’t watch videos on YouTube.
- WhatsApp benchmark.
- There are almost 58% active users globally who access whatsapp several times per day.
- WhatsApp comes at the third place among the top social leading platforms worldwide.
- WhatsApp rank first among the leading mobile messenger apps worldwide.
- In terms of competition, there are approximately 1.6 billion monthly active users of whatsapp overtaking Facebook at 1.3 billion,WeChat 1.1 billion users,Viber at 260 million active users, Telegram at 200 million active users Line at 187 million active users.
- Google had the chance to acquire Whatsapp.
- Google offered $10 Billion to purchase whatsapp back in 2014 but whatsapp declined the offer. Luckily, few months later Facebook acquired it by bidding the double amount what Google was offering with a massive offer of $19 Billion U.S.D. It is by far the largest acquisition till date.
We hope you liked some of the intersting Facts about WhatsApp which might be unknown to you. Personally I loved to share these facts with you guys as there is so much to learn from these facts and figures. Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section about the fact you liked the most. Good luck !