Android and Chrome chief Sundar Pichai refutes reports that Google competed with Facebook to buy WhatsApp. February 26, 2014 10:21 AM PST Sundar Pichai, Google's VP in charge of Android and Chrome. (Credit: James Martin/CNET) Google's Sundar Pichai has denied at Mobile World Congress that his company bid on the popular mobile instant messaging and SMS app WhatsApp. Pichai, Senior Vice President in charge of Chrome, Android, and apps, said in Barcelona this week that it was "simply untrue" that Google had offered to buy WhatsApp, reported the Telegraph. Related stories: Why bother to text your girl when BroApp can do it for you? Google Barge on the move: Next stop, Stockton? Google Glass blamed for melee in SF bar Isis CEO: Foundation is here for mobile payments Motorola wants in on the smartwatch game, too -- and soon An earlier report indicated that Google was outbid by Facebook for WhatsApp, which Mark Zuckerberg permanently friended for $19 billion. Google had reportedly offered $10 billion, according to Fortune. While there may not have been a formal bid from Google for WhatsApp to compete with the Facebook offer, that doesn't mean that Google wasn't interested in WhatsApp. AppleInsider reported in 2013 that WhatsApp was asking Google for $1 billion, although WhatsApp denied the allegation. If those negotiations in fact did take place, they obviously fell through. Another report indicated that Google CEO Larry Page met with WhatsApp's co-founder and CEO Jan Koum in an attempt to convince him not to hook up with Zuckerberg. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET will update the story when we hear back from them.
Android and Chrome chief Sundar Pichai refutes reports that Google competed with Facebook to buy WhatsApp.
Sundar Pichai, Google's VP in charge of Android and Chrome.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
Google's Sundar Pichai has denied at Mobile World Congress that his company bid on the popular mobile instant messaging and SMS app WhatsApp.
Pichai, Senior Vice President in charge of Chrome, Android, and apps, said in Barcelona this week that it was "simply untrue" that Google had offered to buy WhatsApp, reported the Telegraph.
Related stories:
- Why bother to text your girl when BroApp can do it for you?
- Google Barge on the move: Next stop, Stockton?
- Google Glass blamed for melee in SF bar
- Isis CEO: Foundation is here for mobile payments
- Motorola wants in on the smartwatch game, too -- and soon
An earlier report indicated that Google was outbid by Facebook for WhatsApp, which Mark Zuckerberg permanently friended for $19 billion. Google had reportedly offered $10 billion, according to Fortune.
While there may not have been a formal bid from Google for WhatsApp to compete with the Facebook offer, that doesn't mean that Google wasn't interested in WhatsApp. AppleInsider reported in 2013 that WhatsApp was asking Google for $1 billion, although WhatsApp denied the allegation. If those negotiations in fact did take place, they obviously fell through.
Another report indicated that Google CEO Larry Page met with WhatsApp's co-founder and CEO Jan Koum in an attempt to convince him not to hook up with Zuckerberg.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET will update the story when we hear back from them.
