Has since crashed again

Thousands of users across Europe, America and Canada are unable to connect to WhatsApp on both Android and iOS today.

People were unable to respond to existing chats, start new ones or use the messaging app's WhatsApp web service.

It appears the service went down at 16.28 GMT (11.28 ET) and resurfaced around 45 minutes later - only to crash again minutes later.

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The main problem appeared to be that the app couldn't connect to the internet, even if the user had a working mobile or Wi-Fi connection. While attempting to use the WhatsApp Web service generated an error message that said: 'WhatsApp Web requires a working internet connection, which you don't have at the moment'

A live outage map for all the regions in which WhatsApp is available can be found at website downdetector.

This revealed the outage spread across Europe and the US.

The map users a colour scheme to indicate where the reports are originating.

The main problem appeared to be that the app couldn't connect to the internet, even if the user had a working mobile or Wi-Fi connection.

When an existing chat was opened, the name of the person or group was replaced with a spinning wheel and the word 'connecting.'

Thousands of users across Europe, America and Canada had trouble connecting to WhatsApp on both Android and iOS earlier today. People were unable to respond to existing chats, start new ones or use the messaging app's WhatsApp web service (the outage map is pictured

DownDetector.com showed the site experienced two major crashes during the day.

WHAT IS VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP)? WhatsApp added free voice calls to its Android and iOS apps earlier this year. Users simply have to click the 'Calls' tab and choose a contact to phone a friend at no cost. However this only works between WhatsApp users, and it relies on an internet connection. The 'Calls' feature requires an internet connection and works in a similar way to how Skype connects web-based calls - a service known as 'voice over internet protocol' or VoIP. VoIP lets people make free, or low cost, telephone calls over the web and it can be used anywhere in the world. Advertisement

While attempting to use the WhatsApp Web service generated an error message that said: 'WhatsApp Web requires a working internet connection, which you don't have at the moment.'

Elsewhere, some users could receive new messages - albeit with a delay - but couldn't reply.

The site initially resurfaced.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'Some people have had trouble accessing WhatsApp for a short period today.

'We're working to restore service back to 100% for everyone and we apologize for the inconvenience.'

The service was initially restored - but a soon crashed again.

'Some people had trouble accessing WhatsApp for a short period earlier today.

The screenshot image was posted by German Apple blog Macerkopf and it shows a side-by-side shot of a video call being received (pictured left) and answered (pictured right)

'We've restored service back to 100 per cent for everyone and we apologise for the inconvenience.'

However, it soon crashed again, showing users a 'connecting' message.

A leaked screenshot recently revealed the messaging app is testing a video call function to rival the likes ofApple's FaceTime and Microsoft's Skype.