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> people (especially preteens) with an iPod Touch or iPad Mini but not a smartphone/texting plan

If I recall correctly, iOS WhatsApp is iPhone only. It won't run on anything that doesn't have a phone number and can't receive SMS or phone calls (necessary for activating the application).

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You do not. My brother uses it heavily on his WiFi-only iPad Mini.

Perhaps it's country-specific? I just double-checked and the App Store won't list it in the search on my iPad under iPad-only or iPhone-only, nor in Purchased. I'm in the UK.

When I first bought WhatsApp, I bought it in iTunes on my Mac. I only had iPod touches and iPads at the time, and it wouldn't sync the application to any of them. I seem to recall that I tried to follow a direct link to the App Store entry from Mobile Safari, and it said that my devices were incompatible.

You can, but it is not officially supported.

I had to sideload the WhatsApp.apk on to my Nexus 7 Wi-Fi.

Then you receive your activation code on your phone and tab it in on your tablet.

It works perfectly well.

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