The Microsoft Co-founder, and former CEO, told Rolling Stone yesterday that Microsoft was equally as interested in the cross-platform messaging app as Google and Facebook (who eventually acquired WhatsApp), but their final valuation was higher than he would have expected. When asked what effect Facebook’d record-breaking acquisition had on Silicon Valley economics he had this to say:
It means that Mark Zuckerberg wants Facebook to be the next Facebook. Mark has the credibility to say, “I’m going to spend $19 billion to buy something that has essentially no revenue model.” I think his aggressiveness is wise – although the price is higher than I would have expected. It shows that user bases are extremely valuable. It’s software; it can morph into a broad set of things – once you’re set up communicating with somebody, you’re not just going to do text. You’re going to do photos, you’re going to share documents, you’re going to play games together.
Last month, Bill Gates left his chairman position on the Microsoft board to step up as “Founder and Technology Advisor” for the company he Co-founded way back in 1975.
Source: Rolling Stone via Guardian UK | Photo credit: Boomsbeat
