With rumors swirling that Google will come out with a new unified messaging service called Google Babel, now we’re hearing that Google might be looking to purchase the very popular messaging app, WhatsApp. This is of course a rumor, but anonymous sources close to the negotiations say that WhatsApp is playing hardball and looking for close to $1 billion. Apparently Google contacted WhatsApp back in December when Facebook was rumored to be the potential buyer.
There’s no question that a WhatsApp acquisition could help with Google’s plans since WhatsApp is the second most popular paid app in the iTunes App Store with 18 billion messages transmitted this past New Year’s Eve. Now one has to wonder if Babel isn’t as close as we thought, and instead something we won’t see till later in the year? Not only does it take time to complete an acquisition like this, but it will also take time for the team to make an impact on Babel. Let see how this one pans out.
source: appleinsider
Come comment on this article: Google could buy WhatsApp for $1 billion