>If your phone dies, so does your WhatsApp web connection.

The user doesn't benefit from this. Who does benefit from this, and why?

Pure speculation, but it sounds like they're relaying everything through the handset. That might explain the lack of iOS support, as background processing is still somewhat restricted.

That might also be related to how they're now encrypting messages on the handset after partnering up with Open Whisper. https://whispersystems.org/blog/whatsapp/

Edit: this is also pure speculation.

Whats App uses your phone # as authentication and identity. There is no username and password. So connecting to your phone is only way to verify you are who you are.

But surely once verified it should be possible to use the app without your phone? It works that way with Telegram.

I can't find a "WhatsApp Web" entry on my Android app even though the play store says it is up to date. The version I have is 2.11.476

I had this problem. I killed WhatsApp from the recent apps menu, and then restarted it. The "WhatsApp Web" menu item was then available.

Same here. Was not able to find any way to force an update.

Finally! I can ditch facebook now.

Is it US only? I have version 2.11.498 and I don't see the option to update, yet I don't have the web option.

It's not really Bye Bye whatsapp if you aren't using it now?

And it seems like if you would like to use a social networking tool such as Whatsapp, there is at least one reason for you to get a smart phone.

But as they say, different strokes for different folks.