WhatsApp is going to give you freedom to access your account from multiple platforms. However, since inception, WhatsApp has never been a true multi-platform chat app and linked to one’s phone number. It's desktop version, allowed users to access chats on other devices but now it is confirmed to become true chat platform.
A leaker, WABetaInfo, familiar with the development of WhatsApp revealed that’s it is soon becoming a multi-platform system.
WhatsApp is developing a new system to allow to use the same WhatsApp account on more devices, at the same time!
Using the new multi-platform system, it means you will be able to use:
Your main WhatsApp account on iPad (when the app will be available) without uninstalling it from your iPhone.
The same WhatsApp account on iOS and Android devices.
WhatsApp on your computer (without the necessity for an Internet connection on your phone) using the UWP app (this is one of the reasons why started to develop it).
It will be obviously possible to use the same account on Windows Phone (using UWP) and WhatsApp for Windows (always the UWP version).
It’s still not confirmed when the multi-platform WhatsApp will be available. Also, the next upgrade will improve end-to-end encryption. The messages will now have to be synced across devices, Facebook owned WhatsApp will have to find ways to link all chats to the same account.
The upcoming upgrade will also enable users to use WhatsApp account on their PCs without internet connection on their phones, by using the UWP app.