WhatsApp could finally be coming to iPad as company plans major overhaul of messenger

dailystar.co.uk:

iPad users don't have it easy. While using a big-screen tablet browsing the web a joy at home, it's not exactly the handiest device for when you're out and about—just think of the legions of iPad grandads taking photos of famous tourist spots with their tablets.What's worse, iPad users don't always have access to the same apps as their smartphone siblings.

Two glaring absences on the tablet until now have been the lack of dedicated iPad apps for WhatsApp or even Instagram.You'd think this would be a basic inclusion, but instead, fans of Apple's tablet have been forced to use the clunky, web-based version of WhatsApp for years.Luckily, all that's about to change as Meta (formerly Facebook) has revealed its plans to release a special iPad version of whatsApp."People have wanted an iPad app for a long time," Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, told the Verge. "We'd love to do it."Part of the issue comes down to the fact that WhatsApp relies on your phone's network connection to encrypt messages.That's why you need your phone on to use WhatsApp on your desktop PC or iPad.Thankfully, Meta want to change this using its new multi-device support technology."If I have multi-device on, I can turn my phone off or lose my network connection and still get messages on my desktop. "That would be really important for a tablet app, to be able to use the app even if your phone isn’t on.

So the underlying technology is there.”Cathcart gave no details as to when an iPad version of WhatsApp would be released, but the news should give fans of the small / big screen hope for the future.