Popular texting service WhatsApp will soon be available for use on desktop computers. This is expected to come as a result of the company’s acquisition by Facebook.
WhatsApp is playing catchup with competitors that already offer users the ability to text from their computers. Its new PC version is also expected to offer free video chats.
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It may seem backwards for a successful app to offer itself for use on computers. After all, apps are developed specifically for use on mobile devices. It is the software companies and web sites that have seen the light and developed apps so that their services can be easily used on tablets and smart phones.
Facebook, for example, now has two different apps including one just for messaging. WhatsApp is actually only usable on phones and not on tablets that do not have telephone SIM cards.
The reason for WhatsApp to want to be useable on desktop computers is simple. Many people cannot use their phones at work and would love to be able to text friends from the office all day long. Also, when at home it is just plain easier to type out a text on a real keyboard rather than on a smart phones small keypad.
WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum has already revealed the planned launch of a WhatsApp VoIP services by the first quarter of 2015.
