Facebook buys WhatsApp for $19bn

Facebook has bought the messaging app 'WhatsApp' for $19bn in cash and shares. WhatsApp has 450 million monthly users and registers over 1 million new users daily.

The service works by sending messages over an internet connection and is used by many as an alternative to text messaging.

The app doesn't have advertising on it, but after a year of using the app it charges you $1 per year.

However, the service will still be operated independently and we've not heard anything about it being integrated into Facebook. Co-founder of WhatsApp, Jan Koum, will also become a member of the Facebook board of directors.

Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook Founder, said that there are no plans to advertise on the apps interface and that ads aren't the best way to make money from messaging systems.