Yahoo Acquires Maker Of Self-Destructing Message App Blink | TechTree.com

Yahoo Acquires Maker Of Self-Destructing Message App Blink

Following the acquisiton, Blink Android and iOS services will be shut in the coming weeks.

 

Internet giant Yahoo in its most recent acquisition has purchased a Snapchat-like self-destructing message app Blink. According to PCmag the Blink Android and iOS apps will be shut down over the next few weeks, and the developers will join Yahoo's mobile team in Sunnyvale.

 

The move comes soon after Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer reiterated that her company is focusing a lot of its attention on mobile. The intricacies of the deal between Yahoo and Blink are currently unknown, but a Yahoo spokesperson did confirm to PCmag that the Blink team was indeed joining her company.

 

Blink was developed by Meh Labs, which was founded by former Google employees Kevin Stephens and Michelle Norgan. The app rose in popularity after people raised questions over whether Snapchat's messages actually self destruct. Blink on the other hand capitalised on messages that disappear after a time set by the sender.

 

Snapchat reportedly rejected a $3 billion acquisition offer from Facebook, which turned around and spent $16 billion on WhatsApp. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with the company, which requires Snapchat to implement a comprehensive privacy program and submit to monitoring for the next 20 years.

 

Messaging apps have become one of the prime acquisition targets of technology and internet giants. In many regions the world over, these apps have replaced traditional SMS and have become an integral part of how people communicate. This alone has made messenger apps like WhatsApp so important for giants like Facebook to tap into.


TAGS: Apps, instant messaging, Blink, Yahoo, Snapchat

 
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