Facebook Closes $19 Billion Acquisition of WhatsApp Smartphone Messenger

Facebook’s recent purchase of WhatsApp, a texting application company with roughly 450 million active users worldwide, is reported to be 19 times more than Facebook paid for Instagram in 2012. This bold move could reflect Facebook’s willingness to gather more successful mobile apps before rivals Google and Apple, especially given the WhatsApp’s expansive following in India as the companies all strive to continue growing overseas.

However some loyal users of the mobile messenger are already voicing concern the free app, currently void of advertisements, will transform into something much different after the buyout.

That said, Instagram users have more than doubled since Facebook’s takeover less than two years ago - even after Instagram’s introduction of ads.

"Our mission is to make the world more open and connected," Mark Zukerburg shared via Facebook post. "We do this by building services that help people share any type of content with any group of people they want. WhatsApp will help us do this by continuing to develop a service that people around the world love to use every day."

WhatsApp Messenger via Facebook

Price: Free to Download. $0.99 after the first year.

Platforms: Telephony App only for iPhone & Android

Should you get it? If you like being on the pulse.

WhatsApp Messenger uses 3G/EDGE or WIFI when available to send and receive multimedia messages such as texts and pictures, but also audio notes and video messages.

The app works with your mobile number, integrating with your existing phone address book without the need for an additional account pin and username.

Push notifications also allow users to log in/out from other computers and devices seamlessly. Even if you miss a notification or your phone is shut off, WhatsApp will save your messages offline until you view them.

Unlike many other social sharing platforms, WhatsApp does not require you to add contacts. Because your address book connects to the app, contacts who are already using WhatsApp Messenger will automatically display under your Favorites.

Now you are in position to start layering content, broadcasting messages and having fun with WhatsApp Messenger. Share locations and places, exchange contacts, add custom notification sounds and wallpapers, as well as enjoy Landscape mode, message timestamps and the ability to access email chat history.

Currently the first year of WhatsApp is free, with the service costing $0.99 each year thereafter for continued unlimited messaging regardless of the amount of information sent or received, or how many contacts in a user’s profile and Group Chats.

Group Chats are conversations on WhatsApp with more than one of your contacts. There is no limit to how many contacts can join in a group chat, plus you can add or remove participants easily.

This includes anyone in your network sharing messages from overseas, which means there are no additional charges to send international messages. I feel this is what makes WhatsApp so attractive to Big Money Brands like Facebook as Zuckerberg continues his mission to bring Internet access to the remaining ⅔ of the world currently without.

If you have any feedback, questions or concerns, you can email WhatsApp at iphone.support@whatsapp.com, visit the FAQ page of the WhatsApp website or post to twitter @WhatsApp.

Something else to note, Facebook reports Messenger, Facebook’s chat app, and WhatsApp will remain separate.

Now to your Most Downloaded iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week.

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day! With many of you preparing for a special Saturday, I've decided to share with you a Mobile App designed to help you distinguish between Endless Love or The Heat of the Moment.

Horny Girl App via Pandora Maclean-Hoover

Price: Free

Platforms: Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Should you get it? I feel the awareness the topics in this app may provide young minds is worth a download, especially for parents looking for a tech-friendly way to communicate with their children about intimacy.

The Horny Girl App was developed by Licensed Social Worker Pandora Maclean-Hoover as a way to help her clients at the Think-Diff Institute trust their own decisions. Whether in the heat of the moment, or just in thought about their relationship, this mobile app allows users to do a quick check-in with themselves to make sure the time is right.

"HGA fosters confident decision-making in the moment. Should I, or shouldn't I? That passionate feeling, or what we call 'the horny girl running away with the situation,' can impact our lives the next day. So this app helps you to stay present by guiding your decisions one question at a time," said Pandora.

Getting started you're alerted upon download, as well as when you first open the application, of its sexual content. Then the survey begins, asking you to please rate yourself from 1 to 7 on several self-awareness topics such as...

Based on your answers you are now provided a summary as to whether you are insecure and unsure about your ability to make this decision, or a message confirming that you trust yourself, and that the decision is YOURS.

"I've worked with many teenagers and young adults, and have discovered a big gap in what parents are telling kids and what kids will listen to from parents, as well as what they get from educational programs and what they find on their own either from talking with peers or scanning the internet. Hopefully this app will help by aiding them to think for themselves," said Pandora.

Learn More: The Think-Diff Institute Fosters Awareness and Promotes a Fresh Way of Thinking

In today’s consumer first digital age, where Content Remains King and the masses are always hungry for MORE, Facebook now offers a new mobile app that promises beautiful, seamless, immediate and integrated story sharing. So in this week’s APPtitude Test let’s review the app, while discovering who on Paper is sharing #Sochi2014.

Paper - Stories from Facebook by Facebook, Inc

Price: Free

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch & Android

Should you get it: Let the Games Begin!

Two days into the Winter Olympics and after last night's breathtaking Opening Ceremony, combined with Snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg's GOLD, I'm delighted to turn the discussion from no toilet paper to Paper - Stories on Facebook.

Described by Facebook as, “A deck of animated cards that gracefully weaves together text, photo, and video from your friends and the web’s trending content,” I agree that Paper’s design is visually spectacular with the stories elegantly organized by topic and personalized to your interests, which in my case today is the U.S. Olympic Team.

Paper starts with your Facebook news feed. This is where you’ll find stories from friends and sources you follow. Next, you can check out other sections and drag the stories you like into your feed. This makes Paper a customizable and shareable social platform of community voices.

There are several section topics including Tech for tomorrow’s innovators, Enterprise for savvy investors and Score, “Sport news and commentary from journalist, fans and the athletes themselves.”

Similar to the Facebook app, you can still post status updates, like images and message friends, but Paper’s high-resolution photos, unfolding stories and news shares make this app a step above the rest, especially when you get to conveniently engage with the athletes themselves thanks to Paper’s seamless and immediate integration. Truly a great way to view Facebook.

I hope all these storytellers are following the official Olympics Social Media, Blogging and Internet Guidelines.

Compare Paper to Facebook's other mobile apps: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Pages Manager, Facebook Camera & Facebook Poke.

Now to your Most Downloaded iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week.

Are you ready for some football?

The Seattle Seahawks are in position to battle the Denver Broncos today, Super Bowl Sunday. In celebration, Fox has taken down its paywall, offering a live-stream of the game to all through their Fox Sports Go iOS app. The stream starts at 10 a.m. ET with the Fox Super Bowl Kickoff show and continues into the game at 6 p.m.

Coverage of course to include all the infamous Super Bowl commercials, but I used our featured mobile app of the week to watch some of the 2014 ads in advance, as well as browse the best commercials of our yesteryears (see McDonald's ad from 1993 featuring Bird vs. Jordan).

Super Ads by AppBurst

Price: Free

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch & Android

Should you get it: Touchdown!

Whether you live for the sport, or you’re in it for the beer-infused chili, everyone gathers around the watercooler come Monday to discuss the Super Bowl commercials (and the Puppy Bowl).

Since I fall into the ‘eats’ category, I’ve decided to pregame with Super Ads, an app that displays over 200 Super Bowl ads, including a few NEW 2014 commercials and trailers.

While all of these videos are hosted, played, and therefore available on YouTube, Super Ads did a great job of gathering together the Super Bowl commercials from 2006-2013, as well as highlight the most popular ads from over the last four decades.

Given the amount of content, Super Ads is well-organized, allowing users to search for a specific showstopper, browse fan favorites by year, or scroll through designated sections based on company and brand names.

Brands featured on the app include GoDaddy, Samsung and Audi, with a list of “best all-time” ads displaying Apple, Google, Heineken and no surprise, Old Spice.

Users can also share ads via email, Facebook or Twitter. My professional share? Apple capturing stories with the new iPad Air. My 'not so professional' share? Doritos “Finger Cleaner.” I won’t ruin it for you...

Regardless of whichever commercial tickles your fancy, keep the pregame fun going with Hulu AdZone or YouTube’s Ad Blitz to watch, share and vote for your favorite commercials during the Super Bowl.

Now to your Most Downloaded iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week.