WhatsApp's multi-device support, more covered in new interview

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Whatsapp Group Message on iPhone X
Whatsapp Group Message on iPhone X (Image credit: Luke Filipowicz/iMore)

What you need to know

  • WhatsApp has confirmed that its multi-device support is coming and that it's going to "add support for more kinds of devices over time."
  • WhatsApp is also working on making conversations feel as "close to in-person as possible."

WhatsApp has confirmed that it's working on bringing multi-device support to users but hasn't been able to say when the feature will be available. It did go so far as to say that the move to remove the reliance on phones will "add support for more kinds of devices over time."

In an interview with TechRadar, WhatsApp pointed out that removing the requirement for a phone to be available and connected to the internet meant that WhatsApp could be able to support different devices in the future.

Multi-device means that users will have the same functionality that is available on the current public versions of WhatsApp Web, Desktop and Portal, just without the need to have your phone connected. Our multi-device capability immediately makes the experience better for people who use Desktop/Web and Portal. And it also will make it possible to add support for more kinds of devices over time.

Currently, WhatsApp on the desktop and web requires an iPhone to have WhatsApp installed and be connected to the internet. That will all change when proper multi-device support rolls out. Unfortunately, nobody at WhatsApp is willing to say when that will happen.

As for other things WhatsApp might be working on, the social network told TechRadar that it's working to make conversations feel as much like talking to someone in person as possible. Unfortunately, there was no more information made available — but it's clear WhatsApp isn't resting on its laurels just yet.

Be sure to read the full interview to learn more about what WhatsApp has in store.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.