WhatsApp is a messenger or instant messaging system between users via the Internet. Allows you to send text messages, various kinds of images, audio and video recordings, etc. Supported by many platforms, including popular ones such as Android, Windows Mobile, Nokia Symbian, iOS, Windows, etc.

The first launch of the application took place back in 2009. It is claimed that by April 2012, WhatsApp users were sending more than 2 billion messages every day, and by August of the same year, this figure had reached 10 billion.

Unfortunately, the exact number of WhatsApp users is not disclosed, but, according to some data, already in the spring of 2016, more than 1 billion users were using the application! Agree, the figure is impressive.

It is believed that the emergence of instant messengers like WhatsApp had an extremely negative impact on profits mobile operators connections around the world. Thus, their losses due to the fact that users use SMS messages less and less amount to tens, or even hundreds of billions of US dollars. However, telecom operators began to offer tariff packages With mobile traffic, which partially compensated for the loss of funds.

Interestingly, until the beginning of 2016, WhatsApp was paid. True, the cost can be called symbolic - 1 US dollar per year, starting from the second year of connection. It’s difficult to say why the messenger was paid, because it’s unlikely that the creators tried to make money on it in this way. Be that as it may, WhatsApp is now free, as are most other well-known instant messengers.

In early 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for an astronomical sum of $19 billion. At the same time in cash only 4 billion were transferred, another 12 billion were transferred in Facebook shares, and the remaining 3 billion were to be received by the founders and employees of WhatsApp within 4 years from the date of closing of the deal.

WhatsApp has often been and is being criticized for its security algorithms, including encryption. Thus, it is alleged that, for example, until August 2012, messages were sent without encryption, as a result of which they could be intercepted. Despite this, WhatsApp is still one of the most popular messengers in the world.

How to use WhatsApp?

After installation, you need to launch WhatsApp and go through quick registration. The peculiarity of the application is that the number is used as a login mobile device user, and the application gets access to the phone book automatically. By logging into WhatsApp contacts, you will immediately see friends who use the application, after which you can start communicating with them.

How does communication happen? You can send messages or call them directly. There is no charge for this, except for mobile traffic.

You can also use group chats that bring together several users at once, leave voice messages, send images or videos, etc.

Doing all this is so simple that you will immediately understand where and which buttons to press. This is what is good about WhatsApp.

The well-known international business newspaper Financial Times once published an assumption that the popular whatsapp messenger will send SMS into oblivion in the same way as international ones went into oblivion phone calls with the advent Skype programs. What is WhatsApp and what opportunities have users gained with its development - in this article.

WhatsApp - what is it?

This software application is a consequence of constantly evolving digital technologies. If earlier we could only dream of the opportunity to always be in touch, today we have it, and all kinds of programs make it easier to communicate with loved ones and, most importantly, make it cheaper. WhatsApp is a software that allows you to exchange free SMS messages, send photo, video and audio files, graphics. In 2015, users were able to use new feature backup and duplicate your conversations and other data by storing them in Google Drive.

Initially, WhatsApp was developed for mobile systems of the IOS family, and now it can be used by the owner of smartphones, tablets and computers - most devices with Internet access. The advantage of this application is that there is no need to register and create account. The role of the identifier is played by the number mobile phone. Therefore, when downloading this application all people from the directory who use this program automatically appear in the contact list.

How does WhatsApp work?

The WhatsApp program works through a web interface. The utility operates if there is a SIM card in the device and an active Internet connection. For those who are interested in what WhatsApp is, it should be said that it is a cross-platform program that can run on almost any operating system and interact with any type of device. The user can chat and create their own groups, talking with numerous participants. After cancellation subscription fee in 2016, WhatsApp began to be tested by representatives of the business sector.

Viber or WhatsApp - which is better?

WhatsApp or Viber - this question worries many users, because at first glance these two programs are not much different. Both provide the ability to send photos and videos, chat, but they have some differences. In WhatsApp, you can create your own group and communicate with several interlocutors at once, but only here there are public group chats and there is a search for them. At the same time, only Viber can call a landline or mobile number without Internet access.

And although the function is paid, the tariff is not too high. When talking via WhatsApp, you will not see your friend’s face, but in Viber the video call function is available. But with all the advantages of this program, WhatsApp has a more convenient interface and pleasant design. Therefore, for those who value simplicity and ease of correspondence, the choice is obvious.

How to install WhatsApp?

WhatsApp messenger is installed in several stages:

1. First you need to download the program, and for this it is better to look for a reliable source. These include App Store, Play Market etc.
2. Go to the program and enter the name of the utility – WhatsApp – into the search bar. Next, download. In accordance with the settings of your device, the messenger will ask for the required permissions, and your task is to verify them.
3. All that remains is to download the downloaded application.

How to register on WhatsApp?

After downloading the program, you can begin registration:

1. Find the icon of the same name in the menu and click on it.
2. You will be asked to accept license agreement, which is what should be done.
3. In the window that opens, find your own country and telephone code.
4. You can register in the application if you enter a valid phone number. You will be sent a password and automatically authorized. If, when registering an application, you indicate a number connected on another gadget, you will receive a link to it that you need to follow.
5. The registration procedure is completed. You can use all the features of the utility. The application is launched in background, as soon as you appear online.

How to set up WhatsApp?

Each program's workspace is displayed differently, but WhatsApp settings, utility functions and its capabilities are almost identical. Here are the standard tabs and buttons you'll find useful:

1. "Challenges". It is clear that all information about incoming and outgoing calls is displayed here, as in the usual call log on the phone.
2. "Chats". Your correspondence is displayed here.
3. "Contacts". From the list of your friends and family, you can select the right person and write to him text message, send video or audio.
4. "Search". This button will help you out if you need important information, transmitted earlier, but you don’t remember where to look for it.
5. "New message." A message can be written to one person or to an entire group of users at once.
6. "Options". This button hides several subsections - “New group”, “New newsletter”, “Favorite messages”, etc. There are also numerous “Settings” that allow you to change the profile name, set wallpaper, etc.

How to find a person on WhatsApp?

There is no independent function for searching people on WhatsApp - here you can find a person by knowing his mobile phone number. Therefore, those who are interested in how to add a contact to WhatsApp should first add the desired person to address book mobile phone, and the program itself will scan the address book and display the result. If a friend has the same utility installed, then there will be no problems finding each other.

How to block a contact on WhatsApp?

If communication with your interlocutor does not go well or they send you inappropriate and annoying spam, you can block this user, and he will not even know about it. Those asking how to block a person on WhatsApp must be told that different devices this can be done in several ways:

1. Those who use Android need to go to the “Menu”, select “Settings”, then “Account”, go to “Privacy” and finally “Blocked”. By clicking on the person with a plus icon, select an unwanted user from the list.
2. iPhone owners should select “Account” in “Settings”, and from “Privacy” go to “Blocked” and add an annoying interlocutor.
3. To those who use Windows Phone, you need to find the “Advanced” tab, in it “Settings” and “Blocked”.

I must say that you can also ignore someone who is not on your phone by simply going into the chat and pressing block. Another option is to “Report Spam” to the developers. It is clear what WhatsApp is and what enormous opportunities it opens up for Internet users who cannot live a day without communicating with loved ones.

How to delete WhatsApp?

Those who want to know how to remove themselves from WhatsApp must remember that the account cannot be restored. But if you have finally decided, select “Settings” in the “Menu”, go to “Account” and click “Delete account”. The developer will ask you to confirm the operation and send you a numeric code that you need to enter into the requested menu and verify your actions.

Here it is useful application. The secrets of WhatsApp are that it is one of the most used instant messengers in the world. It processes more than ten billion messages a day, and soon the owners plan to add a service for making video calls. So for those who have not yet appreciated all the delights and conveniences of the program, it makes sense to install it.

This messenger has been with us for more than 10 years, and during this time it has managed to “grow” a huge audience of more than 1 billion people. What is WhatsApp for... for us the answer is obvious: of course, for communication! And also for business and in the near future - to receive any services from various companies. For example, to order a taxi, a table in a restaurant or book a hotel room.

WhatsApp features

The main thing why you need WhatsApp on your phone, and why it was created in general, is communication between friends, acquaintances and relatives. To do this, it has all the basic capabilities:

• Exchange short text and voice messages, photographs, videos taken independently or found on the Internet. Transfer files of most known formats.
• Voice and video calls.
• Send your location.
• Everything for expressing emotions - statuses, emoticons, stickers, GIFs, etc.

But that's not all WhatsApp is for. It also has other options that can be used both in everyday life and for doing business:

• Creating group chats of several people and groups of a couple of hundred. An excellent option for organizers of joint procurements, for example.
• Separate notification settings for groups. In case, we have prepared a separate article.
• Organization of mailings.
• Using bots that extend WhatsApp features. They can create surveys, search for information, and much more.
• Ability to work with an ignore list: adding contacts to it and returning to the general list.

As you can see, this is a functional application that has everything you need, but there are no unnecessary bells and whistles. It doesn't take up much space, works stably, and can be used on mobile, desktop, and as a Web version. For correspondence, an average signal strength will be sufficient. And we already wrote about that.

WhatsApp works and will continue to do so in the future on 4 main platforms: Android, iPhone, Windows (desktop and Windows Phone) and Mac. They can download the latest versions and timely updates. There are also a number of operating systems that are no longer possible to download, and support will soon be discontinued: BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry OS - will stop working in 2017, Nokia S40 - in 2018. Nokia Symbian S60 has not been supported since the summer of this year.

Messengers are one of the most convenient ways communication. Thanks to these applications, we can always stay in touch with our friends and loved ones.

Instant messaging programs also help organize your workflow. Create a group chat, add colleagues there and stay updated on any changes to the project.

WhatsApp is one of the popular messengers. The application is completely free and works on any platform. There is also a Web version of the program that runs directly in the browser window.

Today, WhatsApp's audience is about one and a half billion people. The number of messages sent daily exceeds 50 billion.

Financiers believe that the popularity of the messenger has greatly influenced the revenue of mobile operators. Experts predict that the number of SMS messages sent will fall in the same way that the number of international phone calls fell after the spread of Skype.

The first version appeared in February 2009. After 5 years, Facebook bought the ownership rights software. At first, users had to pay 99 cents a year to communicate on WhatsApp, but since 2016 there is no need to pay.

WhatsApp - what does it mean?

Jan Koum, the author of the program, did not choose this name by chance. In English, the phrase “What’s Up?” means "How are you?" It is a part of American slang that is used every day by millions of citizens of the United States and other English-speaking countries.

The word "Up" has been replaced with "App", which is short for the word "Application".

Thus, the name of the messenger literally translates as an application in which you can find out how your friends are doing.

How does WhatsApp work?

Messages are sent using a modified version of the XMPP protocol. The application registers an account on s.whatsapp.net and substitutes telephone number as a personal identifier.

The program scans phone book entries, searches for registered users by ID numbers and compiles your personal list of contacts in the application. If your friends have WhatsApp installed, you will be able to chat with them immediately after installing the messenger.

The application supports the exchange of media files: photos, videos, music and other documents. The files are uploaded to a separate server, where they are encoded and transmitted to the recipient in an optimized form to reduce traffic consumption.

Users can back up private messages and download them to cloud storage Google Drive or iCloud. This allows you to save important messages even if your phone is lost or broken.

A backup of correspondence is also saved to the memory card. Archiving occurs every day at 2 am. Databases of messages for the last 7 days are stored.

It is better to learn what WhatsApp is and how to use it in practice.

1. Open the app store and search for WhatsApp. If there are no results, go to the official website of the developer and download latest version programs from there.
2. Launch the messenger, accept the terms of service and confirm your phone number. You will receive a code via SMS - enter it in the appropriate field.
3. If the program has already been used, there may be some remaining files on the SD card. backups. Old messages can be restored during the first launch - the corresponding button will appear.
4. Enter a name and select an avatar. Personal information can be changed later in your profile settings.

When the installation is complete, in your contact list you will see all your friends and acquaintances who also use this messenger. Choose a person and start communicating.

Once you understand what WhatsApp is and why it is needed, you will probably want to send messages not only from your phone, but also from your computer. There is a desktop and web version for this. However, they will not work if the phone on which the messenger is installed is disconnected from the Internet.

1. Download installation file from the developer's official website or find the program in the application store.
2. Install following the installer's instructions.
3. Launch WhatsApp on your computer or browser and wait for the QR code to appear.

To scan graphic key, you need to launch the messenger on your phone, go to “Menu”, select “WhatsApp Web” and point the camera at the screen.

Important! When you log into your account on your computer, do not turn off Wi-Fi or mobile internet on the phone. Otherwise the program will not work.

The article talks about what WhatsApp is, how to use this program and how to launch it on your computer and phone.

Limitless communication

Not so long ago, even regular mobile communications were a luxury, and not everyone could afford it. Fortunately, times have changed, and ever-evolving digital technologies have made communication virtually limitless, regardless of distance. This was primarily facilitated by the Internet. Unlimited broadband access will surprise no one now, although there are remote corners of the country where there is still no connection to the global Internet at all. But the biggest role was played by the development of the mobile Internet and all kinds of portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. And an application called WhatsApp is especially popular these days. So what is WhatsApp, how does it work and what are its advantages? We'll figure this out.

whatsapp

WhatsApp is free application, originally developed for mobile systems iOS family. A little later it was focused on all other operating systems. Its purpose is to allow users to exchange instant text messages, calls and files. But how is this different from ordinary voice communication or SMS?

The fact is that for this the program uses only the mobile Internet, and not the balance of the SIM card. For example, if a regular SMS costs, say, 2 rubles, then a text message of exactly the same size sent via WhatsApp will cost a few kopecks, since the cost is calculated not by the fact of sending, but based on its size in kilobytes. Simply put, its cost is much lower. But to analyze the question of what WhatsApp is, other functions and their advantages should be mentioned.

For example, voice calls are charged according to the same principle, and a call to a person located on the other side of the city or continent will be the same in cost. Naturally, provided that he also uses this program. WhatsApp also allows you to send various files eg photos, videos, documents and exchange voice messages. And all this is much cheaper than using regular mobile communications. So now we know what WhatsApp is. Where can I get this wonderful application?

Official stores

For all modern mobile devices, you can find WhatsApp in the official application stores. It is not recommended to download and install from a third-party site, since the file may be infected with viruses, and security programs are still not available on all devices. Unlike malware for PCs, mobile device viruses primarily seek to steal money from the phone’s balance, and some can sit in the system for months, secretly sending paid SMS messages.

It's also worth mentioning that it's completely free. WhatsApp starts charging a fee only after a year of use, and it is only $1 (per year).

Another advantage of this application is that there is no need to register or create an account somewhere. WhatsApp uses the phone number itself as an identifier. And because of this, there is also no need to manually add contacts - all the people in the directory who are already using the program will automatically appear in its contacts list.

Install WhatsApp on your computer

With the growing popularity, a version for personal computers. But, unlike similar ones (the same Viber), you do not need to download a program created specifically for a PC; it works through a web interface. This has both its pros and cons. But let's talk about everything one by one.

In order to run it on your computer, you need to go to web.whatsapp.com and then scan the RQ code that appears through a special function on mobile version this program. It is called by pressing a button context menu. After this, the application will be available for use. As you can see, everything is very simple, and you don’t need to bother with installation and other unnecessary steps.

But you have to pay for simplicity, and one of the disadvantages is that WhatsApp must be running on the phone at this moment, otherwise the PC version will not work. The same applies to connecting a mobile device to the network.

Bottom line

What is WhatsApp on a phone? This is a simple, free and low-device application that makes communication almost limitless. You no longer need to worry about your SIM card balance - as long as the Internet works, WhatsApp works.

In a short time, this program quickly gained well-deserved popularity; now you can find a lot of similar applications operating on similar principles, but WhatsApp is available on almost any modern device. This is also facilitated by the fact that versions exist for all mobile operating systems.

So now we know what this application is, what it is for and what its features are.

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