Hugely popular messaging platform WhatsApp has announced it has launched a desktop messaging option that allows its users to send messages via a web browser. 

The web client is an extension of the phone app; the web browser mirrors conversations and messages seen on a user's mobile device, meaning messages will be live on the web version and a user's phone.

It's not entirely convenient as the user's phone must stay connected to the internet in order for the web version to work.

Users must scan a QR code using the WhatsApp service to pair the app on their mobile phone with the WhatsApp web client.

The web messaging service is accessible on the company's website, however the service only works with the Google Chrome browser, at this point.

The web client is not available for iOS users, due to what WhatsApp says are limitations to the Apple platform.

Whatsapp has more than 600 million users around the world. Over 30 billion messages per day are sent via the platform and is it bigger than most of its competitors, including Facebook Messenger and WeChat.

Facebook bought the platform last February for nearly USD$19bn.