The cross-platform free messaging app got updated today on Windows Phone and other mobile platforms as well. This update brings the ability to send and receive messages right from your computer, Windows or Mac. But you will need Google Chrome installed. This new feature works with the following mobile platforms: Windows Phone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia S60 and Blackberry 10. Besides Chrome on your computer, the latest version of WhatsApp itself must be installed on your device. It is available in the Windows Phone store for free.
Launch Google Chrome on your computer and enter the following address: web.whatsapp.com. Launch WhatsApp on your Windows Phone and tap "whatsapp web" in the menu. Use the built in code scanner and point it towards the code generated in Chrome browser. A screen instantly appears with your conversations and you can initiate new ones as your full WhatsApp contacts are also available within Chrome. If you're concerned about privacy, don't be. The extension only mirrors WhatsApp on your phone. So everything is actually taking place on the phone. Users will have to go through the code scanning procedure each and every time they want to use WhatsApp on their PC.
Your phone still needs to be powered on and connected for this to work. It is an extension and nothing more. The advantage it offers is the ability to send and reply to WhatsApp messages on your PC without having to stop whatever work your doing to pick your phone to interact with WhatsApp. My only issue is that the connection is lost when the phone goes in stand by mode. How do you like WhatsApp Web?
"Transfer my Data" is a free app that comes in handy when switching to a Lumia. Notice here that I do not say Windows Phone but Lumia because "Transfer my Data" is a Lumia exclusive. So if you're planning a switch to Lumia phones, add this app to your check list.
"Transfer my Data" has been designed to let you easily and smoothly transfer your contacts from almost any phones: Symbian, Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone and others. Some phones may also support transfer of text messages. That's what the app description says in the Windows Phone store and I do not know which phones are actually supported.
In the update published today, one of the new features listed is "Transferring text and MMS messages to and from an SD card". Support for MMS is a new addition. The second feature is the usual bug fixes.
"Transfer my Data" is free for download in the Windows Phone store.
