How to install WhatsApp?
How can I install WhatsApp in Ubuntu?
Related:
- How to use Whatsapp mobile application on Ubuntu Touch?
Whatsapp needs a phone number to function:
All WhatsApp accounts are tied to mobile phone numbers. Since it is common for phone numbers to be recycled by mobile providers, it is possible that the previous owner of your current phone number used WhatsApp.
What this means, that Whatsapp is tied to phones to work. If you don't use phones you don't get Whatsapp.
There are efforts to make Whatsapp work using a system account, of course you must already have an account with your phone, so, no, you can't have a independent account for your PC (unless you connect a SIM-Card to your computer).
Whatsapp has been creating clients for Windows, apart of their Web Whatsapp that requires a browser. Both limited in functionality and focused only on chats.
WhatsApp FAQ - Why is my phone number already in WhatsApp?
Since January 2015, users can use WhatsApp on the PC (Including Linux) from within their Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Safari Browser. So basically it is not WhatsApp for PC but WhatsApp for Web. There are limitations to using WhatsApp via Web, some of which are:
- File Size Limits (Can not Upload 16+ MB Files)
- File Format (Not all file formats are supported. This affects different type of video, images, sound and even document type files)
For the steps simply:
- Install WhatsApp on your Smartphone.
- Open the website https://web.whatsapp.com/
- On your Phone, open WhatsApp and open the main WhatsApp Menu. You will see a new option called "WhatsApp Web", select this option.
- Use the "WhatsApp Web" option to scan the QR code in the website mentioned on Step 2
- The webpage will update itself and show you a WebApp of your WhatsApp which includes your contacts, chats and more.
This is nowhere near what Telegram can do and offer in terms of full Linux Support, compatibility with the Desktop, with the desktop environment, downloading / uploading files and more. This also applies for old phones (With SMS only) and more.
Steps for Whatsapp in Ubuntu 14.04:
Step1: Download Genymotion
Step2: Download VirtualBox
Step3: sudo dpkg -i virtualbox-4.3_4.3.12-93733~Ubuntu~raring_amd64.deb; sudo apt-get install -f
Step4: tar -xf genymotion-2.2.0_x64.bin; cd genytmotion; ./genymotion
Step5: Download image, run it and download WhatpsApp in the emulator
Step6: Register with your mobile number, you'll receive a code. Enter it after 5 minutes.
Working proof till step 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHmMDEzsJEY