The most popular instant messaging service WhatsApp has just launched a web version that allows users to send and receive messages from their web browser. The company on its blog post wrote that starting today, millions of WhatsApp users will have the ability to use WhatsApp on their browsers.
According to WhatsApp, the web-based version of the application will mirror the conversation and messages from the user’s mobile device. User will also be needing the mobile device in order to log in to the web version of WhatsApp, which can be accessed at web.whatsapp.com.
When visited, the site will present a QR code which the user needs to scan with their WhatsApp-installed mobile device in order to authenticate their account and log in. Even after successful authentication, the phone needs to be connected to the internet in order for the web version to work. Users will need the latest version of WhatsApp to connect to WhatsApp Web using the QR code shown on the website.
As of now, the service is only available for WhatsApp users on Android, Windows phone and BlackBerry. The messaging service, which has been acquired by Facebook last year, said that support for iOS is coming soon. Moreover, users will need to use Google Chrome browser to enjoy the features of WhatsApp Web.
Developers dug out the proof of WhatsApp Web quite some time ago when they found reference to WhatsApp Web and the URL to web.whatsapp.com in buried deep into the code of WhatsApp. The link was accessible but was behind authentication. Today, after making the log in page visible for some time, the company made official announcement that WhatsApp can now be used with Google Chrome for faster and convenient messaging with peers.
