Buying the customer base – Facebook seizes WhatsApp, Brookdale acquires Emeritus
Facebook spends on WhatsApp -- Brookdale buys Emeritus. It’s been an interesting week. Most people do not see a parallel in these two acquisitions, I’m quite sure, since the target user of each is separated by, oh, say 50 years. So what does it mean to consumers that Brookdale, in a 2.8 billion stock deal, will now be the first national and largest owner-operator senior living company in the United States --at more than 1100 locations in 46 states? What does it mean that Facebook, that almost-completely-closed purveyor of pictures and Likes, spends $19 billion, the largest tech acquisition price EVER: a messaging tool with no ads, no games, and no gimmicks that costs virtually nothing to use – other than a smart phone’s data plan (oh well, there is that)? But it’s big overseas – and best of all, requires your phone number to use -- which Facebook will now have – if it doesn't already.