Simple Information Request: 'Whatsapp' Needs... What?

Am I right thinking "Whatsapp" works only on "smart"-'phones with an Internet account?

A small circle of my friends has established a Whatsapp group to cover a particular group activity; and when we meet I do see them looking at photos on their 'phones, and talking about sending each other images. So one of the group sent me the Whatsapp home-page address so I could participate.

Part-way through signing-up, the process wanted me to hold my 'phone over a QR code on my PC screen. My 'phone does not read QR codes, and no such code had appeared anyway.

I can receive and transmit photographs as e-post attachments, but I am not expecting special treatment.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

justanothername · 51-55, M

From what I understand there are two versions of WhatsApp. There’s the default version that comes as an app on iPhone which has end to end encryption aka it’s secure.

And there’s a downloadable web app that probably works on different platforms and from what I understand is used for all sorts of group conversations and content sharing (adult only content)

The downloadable web app is not related to the iPhone app.

I personally prefer WhatsApp on iPhone which comes as standard on every iPhone.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@justanothername Thankyou. My 'phone would not support it then, but I wondered if it could work via my PC (which is what I am using for this).

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@ArishMell there is android version of WhatsApp.

I'm only giving this link to show that it exists. Please use the Play store app to download Android apps!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp&hl=en-US

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@DeWayfarer Thank you for the advice.

Really, I had hoped Whatsapp can be used via a PC, but from your and JustAnotherName's replies, it seems it cannot.

I cannot justify paying hundreds of £££ for an Android instrument. I do not use my portable telephone very often: as a clue my PAYG rates are well under £50 a year on a basic instrument costing well under £100.

I have a perfectly good Internet + telephone broadband service at home, partly because I need a proper PC for my Internet and off-line purposes.

On the other hand I do not expect my friends to send me material they are sharing by 'phone, if it means one having to copy it to an e-mail.

(That material, incidentally, being mainly wildlife photographs.)

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@ArishMell oh there probably is a method yet likely it's using Linux.

There's quite a few similarities between Linux and Android still.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@DeWayfarer Oddly I have sometimes wondered about converting my PC to Linux, if I was confident I could do so without disaster, but I use some non-Microsoft programmes written solely for MS-Windows.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@ArishMell I won't send you chasing after a rabbit! 🙃

Linux isn't for everyone.

ArtieKat · M

@ArishMell I use WhatsApp on my laptop for much of the time but I believe it's necessary to have one's main account linked to a mobile telephone number.

ArtieKat · M

@ArishMell I have a dual SIM smartphone which cost me about £100 a couple of months ago - I could quite easily have bought a single SIM phone for well under £100. There's loads on Amazon, for example - or reconditioned second-hand ones from the likes of "CashConverters".

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@ArtieKat That was the impression I had after trying to install Whatsapp on my broadband computer.

Oh well, I can live without it.

To answer your second post, there is a shop in town that sells second-hand portable 'phones should I ever want a "smart" one, but I am wary of encouraging Amazon and I do not need buy yet another 'phone anyway. I replaced the one I had for no other reason than the impending end of 3G services - basically I was forced into it by the trade.

ArtieKat · M

@ArishMell

I am wary of encouraging Amazon

I would much prefer to use local independents but I had a situation a while ago where I wanted to buy some straightforward hardware items from our neighbourhood store: each item I asked for elicited the reply "Try Amazon". 24 hours later I received the goods.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@ArtieKat Don't they want the trade?

We have only two proper ironmongers in the whole borough now, and one (I think) in the neighbouring town. Though we've also a local independent builders' merchant.

ArtieKat · M

@ArishMell They said that for the items I wanted that they couldn't compete on price.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@ArtieKat That sadly is so for so many goods, and ultimately we risk being in thrall to just a few giant American corporations with a consequent loss of individuality, choice and very likely, quality.