The popular messaging app has announced that its desktop client will now be compatible with iOS.
Since earlier this year, Chrome and Android users have been able to access their messages on both platforms. “Apple platform limitations” previously limited the service to Android, Windows and BlackBerry devices, but iPhone support is now rolling out.
Desktop client finally rolls out to WhatsApp iOS users
Users will now be able to enjoy the benefits of the WhatsApp desktop client, which mimics the user experience of the mobile messaging app. As a result, users can carry on their chats where they left off, switching seamlessly between devices.
If you want to get started, go to http://web.whatsapp.com and scan the onscreen QR code with your smartphone. According to The Telegraph, British Reddit user vmax77 was the first to spot the iPhone update, although it has since been found that some users cannot access it just yet.
In order to open WhatsApp’s QR scanner on the iPhone, open the “Settings” menu in the app before hitting “WhatsApp Web.” If you cannot see the iPhone option right now, it is likely to appear soon as the company continues its gradual roll out.
Once you have scanned the QR code, your iPhone will allow the web version of WhatsApp to sync recent chats, write new messages and create group conversations.
New features drive further growth in user numbers
Alongside the desktop version of the app, the world’s most popular messaging service also announced the arrival of free voice calls for Android users at the end of March, swiftly followed by an iOS update a few weeks later.
WhatsApp has proved hugely popular around the world, due in part to its support for multiple platforms. Another benefit is that it has largely replaced SMS and MMS messages, which are rather expensive in some parts of the world. An added boon of WhatsApp is that it allows easy communication across international borders.
As a result, the service now handles over 30 billion messages per day, and continues to go from strength to strength following its $19 billion acquisition by Facebook last year.
