In today’s mobile and social news roundup: WhatsApp not selling to Google; Virgin Mobile wants to “retrain your brain”; Fairsearch Europe launches formal complaint against Google Android; Apple kicks out another app; and Vine hits #1 on the App Store.

WhatsApp not selling to Google

Reports yesterday stated that Google is eyeing WhatsApp, the cross-platform messaging app, for an acquisition.  Sources stated that WhatsApp is demanding $1 billion, but that price sounds way too high from what is actually being offered by the search giant.  The news came from Digital Trends.

Neeraj Arora, WhatsApp’s business development head, cleared the rumors during an interview with AllThingsD, stating that the company is not in talks with Google for an acquisition.

Virgin Mobile wants to “retrain your brain”

T-Mobile was the talk of the town when it abolished its two-year contract deals offered to subscribers in exchange for a two-year installment plan for high-end phones, such as Apple’s iPhone 5.  Its offerings are far cheaper than what AT&T, Sprint and Verizon offer with their two-year contracts, but there’s someone challenging T-Mobile by offering something even cheaper.

Virgin Mobile has launched a new campaign, “Retrain your brain,” which entices consumers to switch from T-Mobile to Virgin with a $100 credit.

For only $55 a month, you have access to Virgin Mobile’s unlimited data, messaging and talk, 4G data speed, 3G data speeds after you have consumed 2.5GB, $100 credit if you’re switching from T-Mobile, and a cheaper price for devices.  The new offering will save consumers $334 over two-years.

Though the offer sounds good, you have to consider the fact that the lower price tag comes with phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE and the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G. Do not expect to get an iPhone 5 or a Galaxy SIII for $55 a month.

Fairsearch Europe launches formal complaint against Google Android

Fairsearch Europe, a group of business and organizations that includes top Google competitors such as Nokia, Microsoft and Oracle, launched a formal complaint against Google and its mobile operating software, Android, accusing it “as a deceptive way to build advantages for key Google apps in 70 percent of the smartphones shipped today.”

Thomas Vinje, the lead lawyer for Fairsearch Europe, stated that though Android is open source and is free to use by manufacturers, Google imposes contractual requirements to prominently place its other services, like Google Search, Google Maps and YouTube, on the device’s home screen or desktop.

The new complaint was launched just as the European Commission approaches its final stages of its antitrust investigation against Google’s search practices.

Apple kicks out another app

AppGratis, an apps curation and discovery platform, has been removed from Apple’s App Store.  According to AllThingsD, there are two reasons why the app was pulled: it was in violation of two clauses in the App Review Guideline.

AppGratis is sait to be in violation of clause 2.25 which reads that “Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected.”  AppGratis is known to promote other apps inside that app, so it’s like an app store within the Apple App Store.

The second one is clause 5.6 which says that “Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind.”

Other sources stated that Apple was being threatened with AppGratis’ business model that favors developers more.  It also didn’t help that AppGratis received $13.5 million in a Series A funding round led by pan-European VC firm Iris Capital.

Vine hits #1 on App Store

Six months after launching, Twitter-owned Vine has finally hit the number one spot in Apple’s Top Free iPhone Apps on the App Store.

“Hey guys, remember that time we made the No. 1 most popular app in the world? @ckb @dhof @bobby @vineapp pic.twitter.com/r9z25S7vPx,” Vine co-founder and Creative Director tweeted.

Reaching the top spot is no small feat, considering that Vine was only recently in danger of being kicked out of the App Store when it launched, after being used to spread and discover porn clips.  Facebook also blocked Vine users from finding friends who are using the service.

photo credit: carlesrgdm via photopin cc