Although, for Facebook, the deal means more user base, more penetration in emerging markets, but until the deal goes through, SMS stands no chance of vanishing so soon.

If Facebook hopes to remain the social networking leader, CEO Mark Zuckerberg knows the firm must follow the people.

The online messaging platform has been catching on for a few years with younger users and international sets of friends, but a much larger audience noticed it on February 19, when Facebook Inc said it had agreed to pay $19 billion for the service.

\"In the event of termination of the merger agreement under certain circumstances principally related to a failure to obtain required regulatory approvals, the merger agreement provides for Facebook to pay WhatsApp a fee of $1 billion in cash,\" Facebook said.

Facebook users would be able to pose questions directly to key political contenders for 2014 general elections with the launch of a special initiative, 'Facebook Talks Live', by the social networking website.

Postcard is beneficial for those whose job likely involves social media management of some sort.

In India, which has about 200 million Internet users, mostly on mobile, the WhatsApp acquisition will play a big role. The first thing that Facebook gets is a quick addition of about 30 million users, who are using WhatsApp over mobile phones.

WhatsApp is a company with just 55 employees. But it has 450 million active users (heading to a billion) resulting in a valuation of over $40 a user -about the same level per user that Hotmail was acquired by Microsoft in 1997.

\"People are going to look at this and say, `Uh-oh, did they pay way too much for this?,\" said Anthony Michael Sabino, a St. John's University business professor.

In an acquisition move bigger than Google, Microsoft or Apple have ever done, Facebook has announced to buy mobile messaging service WhatsApp for $19 billion. Here's what the social network's founder and CEO had to say about the buy -

Facebook Inc will buy the fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock in a landmark deal. Here's is some key information about the messenger -

The deal sent shares in BlackBerry up as much as 9 per cent in trading after the bell because it put a rough valuation metric around the smartphone maker's own BlackBerry Messaging service.

The WhatsApp deal is worth more than Facebook raised in its own IPO and underscores the social network's determination to win the market for messaging.

Samsung is the most searched mobile brand for the year and its Galaxy S4 topped the handset list.

Value for money gadgets and services. Featuring: Canon Powershot S200, BBM for iOS and Android, Logitech Z600 speakers, ZTE Open smartphone and Dell Inspiron Series 3000 laptop.

Messaging apps are all the rage now. There are dozens of them around and all, unlike the SMS, are offered free. A comparison of the features of the five most popular ones - 

The changed features include friends' avatars in circular with a little badge on them if a friend is using the Messenger app.

Digital media is changing the way political parties interact with voters. Digital media strategies are now part of the overall campaign briefs, and parties are spending an increasing amount of time and resources to mobilise netizens.

Brand pages are proving to be the best way to monetise apps, especially in countries such as India, where in-app purchases are yet to gather steam. Almost all messaging app companies have tied up with mobile manufacturers to preload their apps on new devices.

Yes, you will be ashamed to go to college without one of these. But which ones are ideal for students without burning a hole in their parents' pockets?