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Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
11–20 of 372 posts
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#12So, I use WhatsApp as my primary source of communication. Knowing facebook owned it always made me a little nervous, but given that it was end-to-end encrypted, I figured Facebook wasn't getting any more from me then they would from all my facebook-using-friends who would send me SMS's before. But I'm worried about how long I can continue to use the service moving forward, which is sad as this is my main way to commu…
Hmm once you teach someone to use WhatsApp, another messaging app shouldn't be that hard to learn. I believe FB have been very careful to prevent misusing WhatsApp platform (or have been very good at keeping the misuse secret lol); if word got out that they were it would certainly lead to a huge exodus.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#13I kind of have to wonder what Jan Koum and Brian Acton were thinking (OK, I don't really wonder - they got paid billions of dollars, who wouldn't do it).
But, of course, if you sell a company for billions of dollars, there is the obvious expectation that within some time frame your company will earn revenue and profit to support that valuation. You can't complain "they're adding ads!" unless you have a credible solution for somehow bringing in billions of dollars otherwise, and the WhatsApp founders didn't.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
From the WSJ subscription FAQ: When can I cancel? You may change or cancel your subscription at any time. To change or cancel your subscription, please contact Customer Service at 1-(800)-JOURNAL (568-7625) or 609-514-0870. We do not accept cancellations by mail, email, or by any other means. With those terms, they can all starve for all I care.
Have you ever called to cancel the WSJ? I have stopped the WSJ three times and the FT twice (same phone service.) It’s easy to do. They will make a retention offer but will not do things like hang up on you, require you to have moved out of your area, make you wait, etc. Of course I prefer self-service cancellation to be an option, but if the personal service route is handled well, it’s a small negative in my book, n…
You're nice to them, but I maintain this is lack of respect for the customer. This is 2018 and we have the internet for such processes that can be automated, not 1965. Perhaps they wouldn't need to make retention offers if they didn't have to pay the staff that makes the retention offers? Bonus, I'm not in the US so that number is an international call for me.
Besides, subscriptions are only useful if you actually read WSJ regularly. I only click on some, not all, the articles that are linked here on HN. This bit of drama looked interesting, but most of the time I don't even circumvent the paywall, I close the page immediately.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#15I kind of have to wonder what Jan Koum and Brian Acton were thinking (OK, I don't really wonder - they got paid billions of dollars, who wouldn't do it). But, of course, if you sell a company for billions of dollars, there is the obvious expectation that within some time frame your company will earn revenue and profit to support that valuation. You can't complain "they're adding ads!" unless you have a credible solut…
> You can't complain "they're adding ads!"
FTFA Facebook promised not to put ads on WhatsApp.
The terms of the acquisition agreement require accelerated vesting of incentive comp to Koum and Acton if Facebook renege on their promise.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#16Right click on link --> open in private mode to avoid paywall
Google article title.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#17I kind of have to wonder what Jan Koum and Brian Acton were thinking (OK, I don't really wonder - they got paid billions of dollars, who wouldn't do it). But, of course, if you sell a company for billions of dollars, there is the obvious expectation that within some time frame your company will earn revenue and profit to support that valuation. You can't complain "they're adding ads!" unless you have a credible solut…
hmm, i think no. once you sell th company you only have to fulfill your acquisition agreement. in some cases that may be revenue targets but not always. do we know exactly what they needed to do to keep their jobs post acquire? i don’t think it’s obvious
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#18So, I use WhatsApp as my primary source of communication. Knowing facebook owned it always made me a little nervous, but given that it was end-to-end encrypted, I figured Facebook wasn't getting any more from me then they would from all my facebook-using-friends who would send me SMS's before. But I'm worried about how long I can continue to use the service moving forward, which is sad as this is my main way to commu…
Facebook having access to your contacts and maybe location too is still scary.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#19I kind of have to wonder what Jan Koum and Brian Acton were thinking (OK, I don't really wonder - they got paid billions of dollars, who wouldn't do it). But, of course, if you sell a company for billions of dollars, there is the obvious expectation that within some time frame your company will earn revenue and profit to support that valuation. You can't complain "they're adding ads!" unless you have a credible solut…
> You can't complain "they're adding ads!" unless you have a credible solution for somehow bringing in billions of dollars otherwise, and the WhatsApp founders didn't
What about business features? Pretty much every business in my country advertises a Whatsapp number, from large companies to mom-and-pops. People contact them over Whatsapp to ask questions, make complaints, order stuff, everything. I can't believe Facebook is unable to monetize that.
It seems to me that Facebook is severely biased towards ads because they already have a platform and it's a market they obviously know well. That doesn't mean ads are the only way to make money.
Re: Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders
#20Apple should port Messages app to Android and other platforms, this is a great opportunity for them to capitalize on. It is unlikely though, as the strategy is to get people to buy iPhones to get Messages.