WhatsApp Tests Ability to Link One Account to Up to Four Devices

[hot-gril]

Still the best option for cross-platform communication, fluid UI and user base. Hate it or not WhatsApp is number 1 and iMessage could take a few tips.

I don't think I've used a smartphone-era chat app with more caveats before Whatsapp. Was message syncing really not something to take for granted? iMessage does its job without me having to think about it, except that it's not as reliable as I'd expect, which has led to a couple of real-world "two generals" problems.

Of course, Whatsapp is number 1 worldwide. It's cross-platform, everyone can use it, and in many places people just have a smartphone (no iPad or PC). Jan Koum, Whatsapp cofounder who left FB's board in protest while leaving $1B in unvested stock behind, provided the inspiration for my own project.

 

[soyazul]

It is very easy to know what whatsapp will do in their nexts versions. Just watch Telegram new features. a few month late, Whatsapp will follow...

 

[lartola]

Well, luckily we "internationals" are willing to use more than one app for messaging. 😅 Most of us have at least two or three messaging apps installed, like Whatsapp, Line, WeChat, Viber, etc. to adjust to whatever our non-local friends use (WeChat for our Chinese/HK friends, Line for our Japanese/Thai/Taiwanese friends, Viber for our Filipino friends, etc).
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Whatsapp must be installed on a phone device, unfortunately.

This is why I gave my parents Android tablets, as Android tablets with cellular do have the phone functionality in them, and thus Whatsapp can be installed.

It is possible to use a landline number to set up a whatsapp account, though. Or even a different cellular number from the one on the phone where whatsapp is installed. The only requirement is that the device used be a phone. Other than that, it doesn’t even need to have a sim card in it nor does the phone number need to be a cellular number.

 

[ian87w]

It is possible to use a landline number to set up a whatsapp account, though. Or even a different cellular number from the one on the phone where whatsapp is installed. The only requirement is that the device used be a phone. Other than that, it doesn’t even need to have a sim card in it nor the phone number needs to be a cellular number.

True.
My point was: iPad doesn't have a whatsapp client, and the iPhone app cannot be installed on it since the iPad is not a phone.
Meanwhile, Android tablets with cellular have the phone function, thus the Android Whatsapp client can be installed on them.
So for my parents who wants a tablet and also Whatsapp, the solution is to get Android tablet.

 

[lartola]

True.
My point was: iPad doesn't have a whatsapp client, and the iPhone app cannot be installed on it since the iPad is not a phone.
Meanwhile, Android tablets with cellular have the phone function, thus the Android Whatsapp client can be installed on them.
So for my parents who wants a tablet and also Whatsapp, the solution is to get Android tablet.

Yeah, definitely that’s the only solution for now. Even cellular iPads don’t allow to install whatsapp, unfortunately. I don’t know why they still have such a stupid restriction, though. All the developers need to do is to allow the same app used on iphones to also be installed on iPads, which is not only possible but easy since all iphone apps can run on iPad too. It isn’t even necessary to create a dedicated iPad app.

 

[adrianlondon]

I use iMessage for family, mainly WhatsApp with my friends where I live, Line for friends in Asia and Kakao for a Korean friend. I've finally gotten him to stop using that app.

Worst thing about WhatsApp is the way people use it.

They hit enter
after a few words
and each time, I end up
with a new bloody notification
and a beep.
Grr.
ok.
cu.
Bye.

 

[DeepIn2U]

i use two iPhones and it’s annoying to only have it available on one phone at a time so if someone writes me, I may have to go to the other room to get the iPhone to reply. First world problem I know, which could be somewhat be solved if there was a watch App at least

Definitely a first world problem. Like what did everyone do before this feature was rolled out?

I’m curious since you maybe at home in this situation - maybe project to ATV? is there a WhatsApp TVOS app?

Apple Watch will present the same sort of issue - it’s paired to a single iOS device alone (you cannot pair to iPadOS, presently).

 

[C DM]

Worst thing about WhatsApp is the way people use it.

They hit enter
after a few words
and each time, I end up
with a new bloody notification
and a beep.
Grr.
ok.
cu.
Bye.

Wouldn't something like that apply to pretty much any messaging service that they would use?

 

[adrianlondon]

Wouldn't something like that apply to pretty much any messaging service that they would use?

You'd've thought so, but they seem to gravitate to WhatsApp.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

I use iMessage for family, mainly WhatsApp with my friends where I live, Line for friends in Asia and Kakao for a Korean friend. I've finally gotten him to stop using that app.

Worst thing about WhatsApp is the way people use it.

They hit enter
after a few words
and each time, I end up
with a new bloody notification
and a beep.
Grr.
ok.
cu.
Bye.

I find that on iMessage too. It’s very annoying. In my case, I find that younger people tend to do that more than “the elderly“ as my nieces and nephews call me (lol).

 

[donglewhine]

I use iMessage for family, mainly WhatsApp with my friends where I live, Line for friends in Asia and Kakao for a Korean friend. I've finally gotten him to stop using that app.

Worst thing about WhatsApp is the way people use it.

They hit enter
after a few words
and each time, I end up
with a new bloody notification
and a beep.
Grr.
ok.
cu.
Bye.

Totally. Messaging apps should have some kind of "Throttling" setting for notifications.