Whatsapp has just announced a highly anticipated feature. Users can now access the app via the web, using a Google Chrome plugin. But as the web client is merely an extension of the mobile app, mirroring the messages that arrive, the user’s phone will have to remain connected to the internet for the feature to work, WhatsApp’s blog says.
“To connect your web browser to your WhatsApp client, simply open https://web.whatsapp.com in your Google Chrome browser. You will see a QR code — scan the code inside of WhatsApp, and you’re ready to go. You have now paired WhatsApp on your phone with the WhatsApp web client.”
For some weird reason though, iPhone users won’t be able to use the web client. As you can see, iOS is conspicuously absent from the list of supported mobile platforms. WhatApp cites “Apple platform issues”. Tough. The usual thing is for new apps and features to come to iOS before any other platform.
I use whatsapp on desktop. Bluestack player. RT @MrBankole: Skype killer: A Whatsapp desktop client
— Oladipo (@dfasoro) October 13, 2014
Apple gripes aside however, this will be huge. Determined geeks have already found a way to port WhatsApp to their desktops, via the Bluestacks Android emulator. And there is talk of voice calling functionality coming soon. If you add video calls, you’d have a potential Skype killer. Over 700 million people use WhatsApp actively every month.
