Now, use WhatsApp on your web browser

WhatsApp, the world's most popular instant messaging app, is finally available on computers. While it is still not as simple as opening a web page and logging into an account to send messages, it is simple enough and should satisfy millions of consumers who were rooting for web access to WhatsApp.

WhatsApp said in a blog post on Wednesday night that the service was now available to users who have installed the app on phones running Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry OS.

"Today, for the first time, millions of you will have the ability to use WhatsApp on your web browser. Our web client is simply an extension of your phone: the web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device - this means all of your messages still live on your phone," the company said on its website.

However, the feature is currently unavailable for iPhone users. "Unfortunately for now, we will not be able to provide web client to our iOS users due to Apple platform limitations," WhatsApp said.

Here's how the app works in a web browser:

>> Update the WhatsApp app on your phone.

>> Open web.whatsapp.com in Chrome. Other browsers are not supported for now.

>> You will see a QR code. Open WhatsApp and go into menu by pressing on three dots on the top right corner of the app.

>> From the options select WhatsApp Web

>> Point your phone's camera towards the QR code inside the browser.

>> This will pair the phone and WhatsApp data with the browser. To make sure you don't have to repeat the procedure you can check the box so that your login details are remembered.

As we said, using WhatsApp on the computer is somewhat different compared to how we use other web-based instant messaging services like Google Talk.

When you use the messaging app on web, messages are synced with your phone in real time and WhatsApp says that the phone requires a data connection even if you are using its web version.