Will you continue to use WhatsApp if Google purchases it?

[Just_Me_D]

WhatsApp claims rumors of its Google death have been greatly exaggerated | iMore.com

Now that Google is in serious talks with the makers of WhatsApp, will you continue to use it if they indeed acquire it? Will you have any "privacy" concerns if they acquire it?

 

[BlackBerry Guy]

I have a lot of friends and family on it, so I'd probably continue to use it until the next great widely adopted cross platform instant messenger comes around.

If Google acquires it and they get rid of the subscription fee to make it a "free" service, I'll wonder how they're monetizing it...

 

[kch50428]

If Google acquires it and they get rid of the subscription fee to make it a "free" service, I'll wonder how they're monetizing it...

The same way they monetize everything else: Data mining and selling targeted advertising. Google's product is advertising exposures. That's what they sell. Plus Google gets a bonus for click-throughs... and another spiff if the 'advertiser' is hosted by Google... and another spiff if a transaction is completed using Google's store/payment processing...

By the way... Apple does it too... however, Apple's data mining is minuscule compared to Google from everything I've read...

 

[sting7k]

Probably.

 

[Alli]

I stopped using WhatsApp almost 2 years ago. I was busy sending messages and wondering why I got no responses...turns out there's no way to tell if your contacts have removed WhatsApp from their devices. That's a total Fail.