Here’s how WhatsApp just became my favorite messaging app

Without a doubt, Whatsapp has been one of my most-used applications ever. It’s also probably the first application I download when setting up a new phone. It isn’t that I love the application so much, it’s that I need it.

A few years ago when I was just entering high school, Blackberry Messenger was all the rave. Reason being, we all had Blackberrys and we could all keep in touch without having our parents complain about us spending way too much credit on texting. But as the months progressed and devices became more fragmented, people graduated on to iPhone’s and Android phones. It was around that time when an alternative was sought, and to be honest, only one seemed worthy: WhatsApp. The app was familiar and felt like BBM, but was available on all platforms. As the years went by and our texting needs became more advanced, so did WhatsApp. This gave us the sense that the app grew alongside us.

Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot about WhatsApp that I disliked, it just wasn’t as bad as the competition, and it still isn’t. I personally tried replacing WhatsApp on numerous occasions, be it with Wire, Viber, or Facebook Messenger. All of these apps were great and provided everything I needed, but there was just one thing missing: my friends. I would try my best to boycott Whatsapp and disable notifications. Three days later I’d open the app, find numerous messages and learn that I’d missed out on a lot without WhatsApp.

Of all the things I found inconvenient about WhatsApp, the main thing was when my phone wasn’t within arm’s reach and I would be on a computer. I still wouldn’t be able to access my messages. This was more of just an annoyance. So how did WhatsApp, from an app I had a love/hate relationship with, suddenly push me a bit more toward the love side? They just announced WhatsApp Web, a web portal for accessing all your messages when your phone is away.

Strange isn’t it? The reason Blackberry Messenger became so popular amongst people my age was because we no longer had to be tied down to a computer running MSN messenger to keep in touch. We could do it on the go, at all times of the day. Now, we’re inching ever so slowly back into the past. Maybe it’s just nostalgia. Who knows?

So WhatsApp web is finally here?

Not really. Well sure, you can now access your messages from a browser, but it isn’t what you’d think. Firstly, WhatsApp Web isn’t yet available for iOS users, which automatically leaves a high percentage of people in the dust. Secondly, it’s available only on Chrome. This means that laptop users have to make the ultimate sacrifice – battery life (unless you were already on Chrome, in which case you’re fine). Where companies like Viber and LINE choose to release standalone platforms for their computer counterparts, WhatsApp has opted for a web variant, which seems like the more logical option given they can support more than just mac and Windows and also cut down on resources needed by having just one team to work on it, not that they have a lack of resources.

What does this mean for WhatsApp’s future?

Well, it isn’t really clear. The question arises, will WhatsApp now support the iPad using the same protocols as the Web version? It’s possible, but I personally doubt we’ll be seeing that any time soon.

There was a time when I believed WhatsApp wouldn’t even make a web variant, assuming their social network overlords would be against the idea since it could put a dent in Facebook Messenger’s market share, but it’s nice to see Facebook allowing WhatsApp to grow without interfering too much.

For now, WhatsApp Web is finally here. Even though it is barely living up to its potential, it still serves its purpose and I’m sure will make my life, and a few others’, much more convenient.