腾讯错失WhatsApp收购良机：一场手术如何改变了全球社交格局
2014年，腾讯几乎完成对WhatsApp的收购，却因马化腾的背部手术意外错失良机，最终让Facebook以190亿美元高价截胡。这段鲜为人知的商业秘闻近日被彭博商业周刊披露。
In 2014, Tencent was close to acquiring WhatsApp, but missed the opportunity due to Pony Ma's back surgery, ultimately allowing Facebook to swoop in with a $19 billion offer. This little-known business story was recently revealed by Bloomberg Businessweek.
据彭博社报道，当时谈判已进入最后阶段，但因马化腾需要接受背部外科手术而推迟了硅谷之行。这个时间差给了扎克伯格可乘之机，他迅速与WhatsApp创始人Jan Koum达成协议，报价几乎是腾讯的两倍。
According to Bloomberg, the negotiations were in the final stages when Pony Ma's back surgery delayed his trip to Silicon Valley. This timing gap gave Zuckerberg the opening he needed to strike a deal with WhatsApp founder Jan Koum at nearly double Tencent's offer.
交易细节显示：Facebook支付了40亿美元现金+120亿美元股票+30亿美元限制股。当时仅有50名员工的WhatsApp才成立5年，如今已成为拥有12亿月活用户的全球通讯巨头。
The deal details show: Facebook paid $4 billion in cash + $12 billion in stock + $3 billion in restricted stock. WhatsApp, with just 50 employees at the time and only 5 years old, has now become a global messaging giant with 1.2 billion monthly active users.
腾讯在错失WhatsApp后加速了海外投资步伐，先后收购了Supercell游戏公司和特斯拉5%的股份。但微信国际化进程仍主要局限在华人圈，难以撼动WhatsApp等先发者的市场地位。
After missing WhatsApp, Tencent accelerated its overseas investments, acquiring Supercell and 5% of Tesla. However, WeChat's internationalization remains largely confined to Chinese communities, struggling to compete with first-movers like WhatsApp.
业内人士分析，如果当年腾讯成功收购WhatsApp，全球社交格局将完全不同。如今微信拥有9.3亿日活用户，三分之一用户日均使用超4小时，这一数据已超过Facebook旗下所有社交应用的总和。
Industry analysts note that had Tencent successfully acquired WhatsApp, the global social media landscape would look completely different. Today WeChat boasts 930 million DAUs, with one-third of users spending over 4 hours daily - surpassing the combined usage of all Facebook-owned apps.
这场因健康问题导致的商业意外，不仅改变了两个科技巨头的命运，更重塑了全球数十亿人的通讯方式。腾讯虽然在国内所向披靡，但在出海战略上仍需寻找新的突破口。
This health-related business accident not only altered the fates of two tech giants, but reshaped how billions communicate globally. While dominant domestically, Tencent still needs breakthroughs in its globalization strategy.
