Facebook's stunning $19 billion deal for messaging service WhatsApp places the social network in an arena where competition is fierce, particularly in Asia, where fast-growing chat rivals dominate their home markets.
The multi-billion dollar valuation of WhatsApp is based on expectations that its 450 million monthly users will eventually pass one billion, powering the social network's drive into the fast- growing mobile space -- particularly in emerging markets, where the simplicity of the messaging app can thrive on less expensive phones.
But it is not the only service gaining traction around the world, particularly in parts of Asia, where players such as WeChat in China, Kakao Talk in South Korea and Line in Japan dominate -- and, according to analysts, show greater potential for making money given their different products and strategies.
While WhatsApp, which is free to download but charges users $1 per year, is popular in some Asian markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore, services such as Line, WeChat and Kakao have also expanded around the region and beyond.
"Mobile-messaging apps are growing fast in Asia," noted Elinor Leung and Seung-Joo Ro in a report for regional brokerage CLSA.
"While Facebook dominates the US, mobile-messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Line and WeChat have rapidly taken over Asian SNS (social networking service) markets, especially in the emerging markets."
WhatsApp currently has a larger base than each of the three Asian services but they are growing fast, particularly when it comes to emerging markets, where smartphones or less expensive "feature" phones are seeing explosive growth.
CLSA noted that "Asian mobile-messaging apps like Tencent's WeChat and Naver Corp.'s Line should be valued at a premium to WhatsApp with their wider service offerings and higher revenue potential from games to e-commerce and payment."
WeChat is currently valued by CLSA at $35 billion and Line at $14 billion.
Global social messaging volumes are expected to reach 69 trillion and subscribers to such services 1.8 billion by the end of 2014, according to data from market research firm Ovum.
"In SouthEast Asia there is a huge tussle for market share," Neha Dharia of Ovum told AFP.
"WhatsApp will be able to claim the Facebook share of those markets as well, making it hard for these other guys to grow."
- WeChat -
WeChat, or "Weixin" in Chinese, is a free instant messaging and social media mobile application developed by Chinese Internet giant Tencent and officially launched in January 2011.
It has not only become a popular mobile communications tool in China -- where Facebook is mostly blocked and WhatsApp usage is comparatively low -- but has also attracted tens of millions of users in overseas markets.
The Facebook deal values active WhatsApp users at $42 a piece. According to analysts with Japan's Mizuho bank, WeChat is worth twice that amount "on the back of its gaming, [commerce] and mobile payment potential".
WeChat's number of monthly active users worldwide reached 272 million by the end of September last year, more than doubling from a year earlier amid a drive to attract more users in countries such as India, Spain and South Africa.
WeChat provides text, photo, video and voice messaging services on major mobile platforms. It also offers games, online payments and taxi booking.
- Line -
Launched in 2011 as an instant message and free voice call app, Line -- whose parent company is South Korea's Naver Corp. -- has grown to 350 million users worldwide and aims to hit 500 million this year.
Its user-friendly interface and voice communication capacity have helped it become one of most successful apps in Japan, while also seeing popularity in Thailand, Taiwan, Spain and Latin America.
The app is best known for "stickers" -- cartoon-like images purchased by users, sales of which are core to Line's revenues.
- Kakao Talk -
Launched in 2010, Kakao Talk is used by 95 percent of South Korea's smartphone users and boasts 130 million users worldwide. It is reported to be preparing for an initial public offering next year that could value it at $2 billion.
The free app allows users to send messages, pictures, soundbites and video via the Internet, either on WiFi or through cellphone networks.
Gifts can be bought using Kakao's online shopping facilities, a feature that helped push revenue last year to 230 billion won ($215 million) from 46 billion won a year ago.
It is eyeing Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia where it is fighting for market share against Line and WeChat.
- Viber -
Developed by Cyprus-based Viber Media, which was founded in 2010, the service boasts 280 million users and was recently purchased by Japanese IT firm Rakuten for $900 million - or roughly $3 per user. It allows free text messages and phone calls as well as video messaging. It recently launched a service allowing desktop users to call non-Viber users' mobile phones, in a challenge to Skype, owned by Microsoft.
Analysts have questioned whether it can make more money from customers in the same way that the likes of Line and WeChat have, leading to Rakuten's share price plunging as much as 13 percent on the first trading day after it announced the deal.
AFP
Fri Feb 21 2014
![Facebook's deal with WhatsApp may face tough competition in Asia Facebook's deal with WhatsApp may face tough competition in Asia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/61392986503_295x200.jpg)
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan berikutan komitmen peribadi
Pengurus pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia, Kim Pan-gon menyatakan perletakan jawatan tersebut kerana komitmen peribadi.
#AWANInews
#AWANInews
![Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721102997_SimposiumDronKeban.jpg)
Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi
Penggunaan dron membolehkan pemantauan pencemaran alam sekitar dan hidupan liar serta pencerobohan hutan dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718142997_KimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon menjadi satu-satunya individu yang bakal meninggalkan pasukan manakala Pau Marti bersama staf sokongan yang lain kekal di Kelana Jaya.
![Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721109015_bekaspengawalperib.jpg)
Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan
Bekas anggota polis wanita yang kini bekerja sebagai pengawal peribadi cedera setelah motosikal ditunggangnya melanggar sebuah SUV di lebuh raya PLUS.
![Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719996195_MKulasegaran.jpg)
Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran
RUU Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada akhir tahun ini selepas cadangan ketetapan bagi penggubalan Akta Kebebasan Maklumat dibawa ke Jemaah Menteri untuk kelulusan.
![Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108438_azizi.jpg)
Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu
Timbalan Ketua Polis Perak Datuk Azizi Mat Aris dilantik sebagai Ketua Polis Perak yang baharu hari ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108165_ADUNRembiaPN.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
Kita perlu belajar hidup dengan COVID-19 - Pakar
Itu kata Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki yang berkata pihaknya akan berusaha semampu mungkin dalam menggalakkan praktis kendiri dikalangan orang awam bagi mencegah penularan wabak seperti mana yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
LHDN lulus 141,406 permohonan PKPS 2.0
Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) telah meluluskan sebanyak 141,406 permohonan program khas pengakuan sukarela (PKPS) 2.0 yang melibatkan 102,572 bilangan kes pembayar cukai individu, 27,707 bilangan kes syarikat dan selebihnya melibatkan lain kategori seperti pertubuhan.
![Yayasan Albukhary: Guan Eng tidak batalkan pengecualian cukai ketika jadi Menteri Kewangan Yayasan Albukhary: Guan Eng tidak batalkan pengecualian cukai ketika jadi Menteri Kewangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721046171_LimGuanEng.jpg)
Yayasan Albukhary: Guan Eng tidak batalkan pengecualian cukai ketika jadi Menteri Kewangan
Lim memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi bahawa beliau tidak pernah mengeluarkan arahan membatalkan pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary, semasa beliau memegang jawatan Menteri Kewangan.
![ASEAN 2025: PM yakin Malaysia mampu jadi tuan rumah terbaik ASEAN 2025: PM yakin Malaysia mampu jadi tuan rumah terbaik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720712803_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
ASEAN 2025: PM yakin Malaysia mampu jadi tuan rumah terbaik
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menzahirkan keyakinan bahawa Malaysia mampu menjadi tuan rumah terbaik sempena Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN 2025.
![Suami isteri ditahan kerana biar anak tidur di kaki lima flat Suami isteri ditahan kerana biar anak tidur di kaki lima flat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-11/51667557232_Bernama.jpg)
Suami isteri ditahan kerana biar anak tidur di kaki lima flat
Polis menahan sepasang suami isteri kerana tidak membenarkan anak lelaki mereka berusia 13 tahun masuk ke dalam rumah sehingga terpaksa tidur di kaki lima perumahan flat.
![Polis tahan enam anggota sindiket ah long disyaki ugut peminjam Polis tahan enam anggota sindiket ah long disyaki ugut peminjam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707752106_TBCPMKumar.jpg)
Polis tahan enam anggota sindiket ah long disyaki ugut peminjam
Polis menahan enam individu disyaki terbabit aktiviti pinjaman wang tanpa lesen atau 'Ah Long' menerusi beberapa serbuan di sekitar Negeri Sembilan dan Kuala Lumpur bermula 28 Jun hingga 1 Julai.
![Agama, kaum sering disalah guna untuk manfaat kumpulan tertentu - PM Agama, kaum sering disalah guna untuk manfaat kumpulan tertentu - PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720706229_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Agama, kaum sering disalah guna untuk manfaat kumpulan tertentu - PM
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata agama sering disalah guna untuk memanfaatkan kumpulan kecil tertentu akibat kejahilan atau salah faham.
![Meta luaskan polisi untuk memadam posting menghina 'Zionis' Meta luaskan polisi untuk memadam posting menghina 'Zionis'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/41709656518_MetaPlatforms.jpg)
Meta luaskan polisi untuk memadam posting menghina 'Zionis'
Meta, syarikat induk Facebook dan Instagram, mengumumkan peluasan polisi ucapan benci pada Selasa untuk memadam hantaran yang menyasarkan "Zionis" dengan cara menghina.
![MCA harap pelajar gagal rayuan ke matrikulasi diberi peluang kedua MCA harap pelajar gagal rayuan ke matrikulasi diberi peluang kedua](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61719891692_TBWEEKASIONGJB.jpg)
MCA harap pelajar gagal rayuan ke matrikulasi diberi peluang kedua
MCA berharap pelajar yang gagal dalam rayuan bagi memasuki program matrikulasi diberi peluang kedua untuk melanjutkan pengajian.
![Pesara rugi lebih RM200,000 terperdaya skim pelaburan tidak wujud Pesara rugi lebih RM200,000 terperdaya skim pelaburan tidak wujud](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/51704013524_scam.jpg)
Pesara rugi lebih RM200,000 terperdaya skim pelaburan tidak wujud
Siasatan awal mendapati wanita itu berminat dengan tawaran menarik melalui skim pelaburan terbabit yang menjanjikan keuntungan 8,000 peratus daripada jumlah pelaburan.
![Bekas pemilik syarikat dipenjara enam bulan sembunyi lebih RM1.3 juta wang milik wanita Bekas pemilik syarikat dipenjara enam bulan sembunyi lebih RM1.3 juta wang milik wanita](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/81673518377_TBSIMBAHASID.jpg)
Bekas pemilik syarikat dipenjara enam bulan sembunyi lebih RM1.3 juta wang milik wanita
Dia didakwa melakukan perbuatan itu sebuah premis di Sentul pada 19 April lepas mengikut Seksyen 424 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman maksimum penjara lima tahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya.
![Mohd Na'im nafi terlibat mengajak masyarakat sertai kumpulan di media sosial Mohd Na'im nafi terlibat mengajak masyarakat sertai kumpulan di media sosial](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61714481430_TBNAIM.jpg)
Mohd Na'im nafi terlibat mengajak masyarakat sertai kumpulan di media sosial
Mohd Na'im Mokhtar menafikan penglibatan dalam mengajak masyarakat menyertai mana-mana kumpulan di media sosial.