Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $16 billion

[wakka]

Those are definite drawbacks Charles. I use Google Hangouts/Gchat myself these days but found myself moved to defend the benefits of WhatsApp :P

[Brad]

I guess that the privacy aspect of Whatsapp explains why your data isn't backed up. In that respect it's just like SMS.

[Mr Ono]

I use it all the time for sorting out nights out etc and sharing group messages. I also periodically back up my messages onto my PC by dragging and dropping the whatsapp folder. Android only I think.

[VR46]

Yeah, as if Apple would give the user that much freedom to do something useful. Dream on.

[Asura]

Key thing with WhatsApp is that it was one of the first apps to do this kind of thing that was up-to-standard in terms of ease of use/quality, AND was cross-platform.

It's basically iMessaging but for Android users too.

[Brad]

Yeah, as if Apple would give the user that much freedom to do something useful. Dream on.

iPhones automatically backup whatsapp messages to iCloud.

[Brad]

It's basically iMessaging but for Android users too.

Of course Samsung users are able to use the incredibly popular "ChatOn" messaging system!

[charlesr]

I use it all the time for sorting out nights out etc and sharing group messages. I also periodically back up my messages onto my PC by dragging and dropping the whatsapp folder. Android only I think.

Cool. Are you running Samba on your Android? It's awesome. It just appears as a folder on the PC without me having to connect it or anything.