Yahoo has purchased Blink, a self-destructing messaging app that itself will soon disappear.
Blink, which was founded in 2011, confirmed the purchase on its website and in the tweet below:
We're excited to announce that Blink is now part of Yahoo! Thanks to all of our users. http://t.co/dU3lOqJRXI— Blink (@blinkapp) May 13, 2014
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "I can confirm that the entire team behind Blink will be joining our mobile team in Sunnyvale where they will focus on smart communication products," a Yahoo rep confirmed.
Launched as location-based app Kismet by ex-Googler Kevin Stephens and cofounder Michelle Norgan, Blink pivoted to ephemeral messaging about a year ago. TechCrunch reported that Yahoo plans to shut Blink down and hire founders in what appears to be an aqui-hire.
The move comes after Facebook announced it was buying WhatsApp for $16 billion after making an unsuccessful $3 billion bid for Snapchat.