UPDATE: WhatsApp is now back on the App Store. Find out what happened.

The phenomenally successful free messaging service ‘WhatsApp’ has been removed from the App Store by Apple while it vets an update, but is the free service’s iPhone future in doubt?

 

WhatsApp is having to put out fires left, right and centre at the moment. Firstly, a dodgy message has been floating about the web asking WhatsApp users to forward it on to all of their contacts, lest the app declare “your account as invalid,” which will see it “deleted within the next 48 hours.” Bogus.

There’s also a nasty rumour circulating that the free service is set to charge. “This is a hoax and there is no truth to it,” says the developers. As if these troubles weren’t enough, the company is now having to deal with Apple over security issues.

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The app has had to be updated to fill in its holes, which has led Apple to take the current version off of iTunes while it goes through the code. Small app updates are normally turned around within a couple of days, but this looks to be a pretty big rewrite.

With iMessage on the iPhone now offering the exact same functionality as WhatsApp out of the box, the app’s future on Apple’s smartphones may soon be numbered. There’s certainly less call for it now than there used to be. We’ll have to wait to see whether WhatsApp gets approved by Apple, but if you’ve got it installed already it should still work fine.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/keithandrew Keith Andrew

    iMessage offers the exact same features as WhatsApp…apart from the ability to message users on other platforms, of course. ;)

    • Anonymous

      Rather big difference! WhatsApp has a huge install base on BlackBerry and even Nokia phones.

    • Dunc

      can you send picture messages for free on imessage the same as whatsapp?

      • http://twitter.com/foundintransltn Keith

        Yes – the only cost being, if you are sending the message over 3G/EDGE, etc., you have to pay for the data cost, but that is the same for iMessage, too.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=866350172 Tom Murton

        and do group messages!

  • Faihan Otaibi

    There is no comparison between WhatsApp and IMessage. One is a true social networking app while the other is just an IPhone OS toy.

    • Anonymous

      I wouldn’t call iMessage a toy since it integrate seamlessly between free iMessage texting and non free SMS texting all from the same app.

      Still, Whatsapp does offer free cross-platform texting from various smartphones. On the other hand, for iOS devices, Whatsapp only works on the iPhone when iMessage works also on the iPad and the iPod Touch providing these devices access to free texting.I would say that both apps are valuable to an iPhone owner.

      • http://twitter.com/foundintransltn Keith

        Free “texting” on my iPad I think is a bit of a misnomer, since most people texting on their phones are probably texting to phone #’s.  iPad and iPod Touch can only receive iMessages via an email address that they have registered.  I don’t receive “duplicate” iMessages on my iPad and iPhone.  Also, unless your iPad has cellular data access, you’re still stuck on Wi-fi and same goes for iPod Touch, too.  Whatsapp is great because you can message people who have it regardless of their device.  I will say that Whatapp Android version is the best, integrating with your contact list, allowing you to send messages to your contacts who have it right from your contact list.  Not sure you can do that on an iPhone

        I do agree that iMessage works pretty well, and the integration is amazing.

      • Anonymous

        Spot on.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/HBGMIQU53FL5JGLUY4DJD5U5D4 M

      Faihan- I take you are an Android or BB User…Explain iMessenger being a toy?  The Difference between iMessenger and WhatsApp is simply that WhatsApp is open to network providers and iPhone strictly to its OS as is BB.You can group chat as much as well share files, etc. 

  • Faihan Otaibi

    There is no comparison between WhatsApp and IMessage. One is a true social networking app while the other is just an IPhone OS toy.

  • Ianormistonstables

    The reason I use WhatsApp is its cross platform nature – I can communicate with iOS, Android and BlackBerry contacts with it. BBM and iMessage do not offer this…

  • Jaycue

    BREAKING NEWS!!! … Whatsapp is back on the app store! I just downloaded it and its fine!

  • mn

    its not free any more? (0-o)

  • mn

    its not free any more? (0-o)

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