WhatsApp made its debut in 2009 as a mobile-based chat app. A few years down the line the app was bought by Facebook and then major changes started hitting the chat app.
First, we saw the app come in with a desktop client known as WhatsApp Web. While this platform allows users to chat with friends over the desktop, it relies on web browsers to establish the connection. This update was later followed by the ability to make voice calls using the chat app, something that saw the company gain hundreds of millions of users within months.
Many have aired their dissatisfaction regarding the idea of using WhatsApp on their desktops via a dedicated web browser. In fact, it only got better with time as the initial rollout of WhatsApp Web only worked with Google Chrome web browser and nothing else. This was changed later on and more browsers incorporated.
In a bid to ensure better native integration with desktops, Facebook has unveiled a new WhatsApp for desktop app that can be downloaded and installed like any other native PC app. This means that the app can be downloaded on Windows and Mac OS X and used just like with in other cases. However, the current version only supports Windows 8 and above as well as Mac OS X 10.9 and above.
WhatsApp for PC now joins the native apps available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and other platforms, but it will still work like the desktop platform. What this means is that to log into the app, you will still need to scan a QR code. In addition, you need to keep the mobile phone app active in order to receive messages on your desktop app.
WhatsApp Web users can now share document files
Now that the standalone desktop app is here, attention has once again turned to WhatsApp Web. This platform has been seeing steady progress in terms of features on offer. It is moving closer to offering the same features and functionalities as those available on the main mobile app which you can download from Google Play store.
The latest step towards this is the addition of the ability to share documents. Previously, users could only share photos and videos via the web client. Furthermore, the web client allows users to capture photos using webcam and share them with friends. The new update now adds them the ability to share documents of file types CSV, DOCX, DOC, PPT, PPTX, PDF, RTF, XLS, XLSX, and TXT.
All of these capabilities have been included in the standalone WhatsApp for PC app. To share a document, simply click on the attachment icon located in the top right corner when inside a conversation and then follow it by clicking on the document icon.