WhatsApp DOWN - Chat app launches new UPDATE after worldwide outage

WHATSAPP has pushed-out a new software update – as chat app users across the globe complain the popular software is not working, following a devastating worldwide outage earlier this week.

WHATSAPP • GETTY

WhatsApp users are still reporting hundreds of outages, as the app pushed-out a new update

WhatsApp suffered a colossal outage on Wednesday night, with users in the UK, Europe, Asia and America left unable to send and receive text messages, photos, or videos.
The Facebook-owned messaging app started to experience problems from 9pm last night.
Independent website DownDetector, which tracks social comments around a certain topic to monitor outages across the globe, showed thousands of WhatsApp users experiencing connection issues.

WhatsApp users in all parts of the world were unable to access WhatsApp for a few hours

WhatsApp spokesperson

A spokesperson confirmed that WhatsApp was back up-and-running last night.
"Earlier today, WhatsApp users in all parts of the world were unable to access WhatsApp for a few hours," the spokesperson told Engadget.
"We have now fixed the issue and apologise for the inconvenience."

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However, despite the fix being in place – hundreds of WhatsApp fans were left unable to access the app.
DownDetector is still tracked hundreds of outage reports, with WhatsApp users left unable to connect the following morning.
Amid these fresh outage reports, WhatsApp pushed out a new update for iPhone owners.
Strangely, the new software update does not appear to show any new features – with many of the new software additions included in the last iOS update.

DOWNDETECTOR

Hundreds of WhatsApp users are still reporting problems with the app

DOWNDETECTOR

WhatsApp users in the UK and Europe are still complaining about problems with the app

The changelog states that the May 4th update includes, the ability for voice assistant Siri to read your latest messages in iOS 10.3 and later.
WhatsApp claims the new update also includes "visual improvements to the Calls tab, Contact Info and Group Info screens".
According to the iOS changelog, the new version of the app also includes functionality to "select multiple statuses at once and forward or delete them", as well as "support for Persian".
These software features were all pushed-out on April 21st.

TWITTER

Angry WhatsApp users have taken to Twitter to complain about the update

TWITTER

WhatsApp users have joked the new update could be a fix for the outages

TWITTER

The update has not enabled some users to connect to WhatsApp properly again

That has lead some online commentators to speculate that the new iOS update has something to do with the worldwide outage.
"Is it this fancy new WhatsApp update that caused trouble!" one user tweeted.
Another added: "WhatsApp's sudden update isn't making this any better. lol."
One WhatsApp user posted: "What the... first you leave us without service and now you wanna cash in with an update @WhatsApp #nogood"
The online speculation that this latest iOS update is linked to the worldwide outage has not been confirmed by WhatsApp.
The news comes as Facebook announced that WhatsApp had topped more than 1.2billion monthly active users worldwide.