You will agree with me that WhatsApp is the most common messaging platform outside the USA or China where iMessage and WeChat are the order of the day respectively. As Facebook works towards making one super social media app, it looks like they could be taking a step in the right direction with several upcoming WhatsApp features.
WhatsApp beta is a version of the messaging app which users can download if they want to test out the latest features that the company is trialing before it decides whether to put them on the normal version.
Here is a roundup of some of the most anticipated features that could change your WhatsApp experience for the better thanks to WhatsApp beta users.
Share WhatsApp status on Facebook
There was a lot of backlash when WhatsApp announced this upcoming feature last week. Currently, WhatsApp beta users can now sling their status updates over to their Facebook Story at the push of a button.
As well as Facebook, the new share tool lets you ping your statuses to Instagram, as well as other services like Gmail or Google Photos.
WhatsApp statuses allow you to share text, photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. They work much like the Stories feature in Snapchat or Facebook.
However, it’s likely the new tool will roll out to users across the globe within the next few months.
Contact ranking
It’s easy to get lost in a sea of WhatsApp conversations but this new feature will help you keep your favourite people to chat to at the top of your app.
This should help people to avoid missing messages.
The feature will work automatically as the app will detect who you interact with the most.
Dark Mode
This has been a feature in the works for long. The WhatsApp focused blog WABetaInfo recently noticed that the Dark Mode feature appeared on the beta version of the app on Android phones.
The highly anticipated feature is expected to improve user experience and reduce battery consumption.
In Dark Mode, WhatsApp has a black background with white text on top.
It has also been spotted in the beta version of the iOS app.
Fingerprint authentication
This upcoming feature will help to add another layer of security to the app. It will be available on Android first and set up through the privacy settings in the app.
However, iPhone users and other smartphone owners who don’t have a fingerprint scanner on this device won’t be able to use this feature.
It is possible that FaceID might also be added at some point to aid these users.
QR mode
This feature has already featured on other popular messaging apps, like Snapchat, and will basically allow you to easily add WhatsApp contacts just by scanning a QR code from their phone.
Every user will get a unique code, which should make making new friends a lot easier.
