Yahoo buys 'Self-Destruct Messaging App' Blink

Yahoo has purchased a Snapchat-like private messaging app called Blink and apparently plans to integrate the technology that powers it rather than keeping Blink itself on the market. Blink was an app that let users send disappearing photos and messages, similar to Snapchat. It’s possible that the employees will build a similar service for Yahoo.

A post Wednesday at the Blink website announced that the start-up is becoming part of Yahoo but did not disclose financial terms of the deal. Blink said that in coming weeks it will shut down its applications for mobile devices powered by Apple or Android.

“We built Blink because we believe everyone should be free to show the same honesty and spontaneity in their online conversations as they can in person,” said the company announcement. “We look forward to the possibilities that will come from bringing the Blink vision to Yahoo.”

The app will reportedly be shut down so that Blink's seven-person team can work on Yahoo's "smart communication" products. The move comes amid both Yahoo's continued efforts to reinvent itself and rising interest from social networking companies in mobile messaging apps.

Yahoo's acquisition of Blink is just one more example of how the private messaging industry has been growing in recent months. Snapchat, Chadder, Wickr, and many others all promise to secure messages and prevent people on the outside from seeing them.

There are also two sides to the private messaging market. One side deals with everyday privacy and includes Snapchat and Blink, whereas the other side is focused on preventing hackers or government agencies from spying on communications.

Yahoo has been undergoing major changes since former Google executive Marissa Mayer became boss in 2012, notably acquiring what is now more than 20 start-ups including the billion-dollar buy of blog platform Tumblr.