Facebook Acquires 'Umgjal' Platform 'Gipi'... Integration with Instagram

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Global social media platform Facebook has acquired Giphy, a moving image search platform known for '움짤 (moving GIFs),' according to reports by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others on the 15th (local time).

Facebook stated that Giphy will become part of its subsidiary Instagram. Although specific deal terms were not disclosed, foreign media expect the acquisition amount to be around $400 million (approximately 493 billion KRW).

Giphy is a platform that holds a library of GIF image files. Users can search for and use the images they need on this platform.

Social media Twitter and business messenger Slack have integrated Giphy into their own apps. Users can access the GIF library from the message composition window to use images. Apple has also introduced this feature into iMessage. Facebook has been using the Giphy app within Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Instagram announced via Twitter that third-party platforms like these will continue to be able to use Giphy. Facebook stated that it will further integrate Giphy more closely with various apps, including the Instagram app.

The previous day saw acquisition news from Apple and Microsoft (MS). Apple announced that it had acquired the virtual reality (VR) startup 'NextVR.' NextVR is a company focused on broadcasting events such as sports or concerts in real-time or recorded formats using virtual reality. On the same day, MS also announced that it had agreed to acquire the telecommunications software company 'Metaswitch Networks.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.