It's been rumoured for quite some time but now it's finally a reality. WhatsApp have released a desktop app for Windows and Mac users. 

WhatsApp made the announcement today in a blog post which said that the move should link the app on your phone to the one on your desktop. Meaning that you'll be able to see new messages on both simultaneously. You link the two by scanning the QR code on your desktop's screen. 

In the blog post, WhatsApp said that: ‘Like WhatsApp Web, our desktop app is simply an extension of your phone: the app mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device.'

‘The new desktop app is available for Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+ and is synced with WhatsApp on your mobile device. Because the app runs natively on your desktop, you’ll have support for native desktop notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and more.

You can download the app here.