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Google WhatsApp

WhatsApp launches Chrome extension expanding the messaging service from the mobile platform

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

January 22, 2015 | 2 min read

Facebook-owned messenger service WhatsApp has widened its availability from the mobile platform to PC, laptop and tablet users through a Google Chrome extension.

WhatsApp claims the Google Chrome add-on will make alternative devices “an extension of your phone” in a move which will help the firm further overshadow SMS messaging as a result of the messenger's greater device accessibility.

To connect their web browser to the WhatsApp client, users should scan a QR code generated by the WhatsApp website with their smartphone to verify as a security measure to protect access to users' chat logs.

A WhatsApp statement said: “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 firm however claimed the feature would not be available on Apple devices: “Unfortunately for now, we will not be able to provide web client to our iOS users due to Apple platform limitations.”

WhatsApp has 700 million active monthly users, with the Android platform accounting for more than 500 million of these. This follows the messenger compnay on Wednesday cracking down on third party apps which it claimed were vulnerable to hackers.

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