Less than two years since launching in October 2010, the mobile photo-sharing app and network iPhoners [and since April 2012, Android users too] quickly grew to love for it’s simple-to-use picture enhancing filters – Instagram is to be acquired by social networking leader Facebook in a $1 Billion deal.
“When Mike and I started Instagram nearly two years ago, we set out to change and improve the way the world communicates and shares,” Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom writes in a statement on the Instagram blog.
“We’ve had an amazing time watching Instagram grow into a vibrant community of people from all around the globe. Today, we couldn’t be happier to announce that Instagram has agreed to be acquired by Facebook. “
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg also shares the “milestone” news in a note on his own profile; “For years, we’ve focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family,” he states. “Now, we’ll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.”
“This is an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the first time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users. We don’t plan on doing many more of these, if any at all,” he explains. “But providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love Facebook and we knew it would be worth bringing these two companies together.”
Both brands are clearly aware of the apprehension some users may feel about the union [where will the ads go? where will our pictures end up?]. To reassure, Systrom adds: “It’s important to be clear that Instagram is not going away… The Instagram app will still be the same one you know and love… We’ll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network.”
On Facebook’s end, Zuckerberg acknowledges, “we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook.”
“We will try to learn from Instagram’s experience to build similar features into our other products. At the same time, we will try to help Instagram continue to grow by using Facebook’s strong engineering team and infrastructure.”
• Read Mark Zuckerburg’s full statement
• Read Mark Systrom’s full statement
• More information: Forbes / Wired / NY Times / CNN / Gigaom
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