When was WhatsApp created, what year - briefly?
WhatsApp was created in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum.
When was WhatsApp created, what year - in detail?
WhatsApp, the ubiquitous messaging platform that has revolutionized global communication, was created in 2009. The story behind its inception is one of innovation and entrepreneurship.
In February 2009, Brian Acton and Jan Koum, both former employees of Yahoo!, decided to leave the tech giant and explore new opportunities. They recognized a gap in the market for a user-friendly, efficient messaging application that could run on mobile devices. At the time, text messaging was expensive, and existing messaging apps were not as intuitive or feature-rich as they envisioned.
Acton and Koum incorporated WhatsApp Inc. in California on June 24, 2009. The name "WhatsApp" was a play on the phrase "What's up," reflecting the casual and conversational nature of the app they were developing. In July 2009, Apple introduced the App Store, which provided an ideal platform for launching their new application.
The first version of WhatsApp was released on January 9, 2010. It was initially available only to iPhone users, but its popularity grew rapidly due to its simplicity and functionality. The app allowed users to send messages using their phone numbers instead of usernames, making it more accessible and convenient.
In August 2011, WhatsApp introduced support for BlackBerry, followed by Android in October of the same year. This expansion significantly increased the user base, as more people could access the app regardless of their device type. By late 2013, WhatsApp had over 450 million active users worldwide and was processing approximately 16 billion messages per day.
In February 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, marking one of the largest acquisitions in Silicon Valley history. This acquisition further solidified WhatsApp's position as a leading global messaging platform and facilitated its integration with other Facebook services. Today, WhatsApp continues to evolve, introducing new features such as voice and video calls, group chats, and end-to-end encryption, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of modern communication technology.