Below is a roundup of some of the most anticipated features that could change your WhatsApp experience for the better.
As Facebook works towards making one super social media app, it looks like they could be taking a step in the right direction with this WhatsApp status feature. WhatsApp beta users can now sling their status updates over to their Facebook Story at the push of a button.
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 trialling before it decides whether to put them on the normal version.
However, it’s likely the new tool will roll out to users across the globe within the next few months.
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.
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.
Ranking contacts
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
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.
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.
| WhatsApp – a quick history | |
| WhatsApp was created in 2009 by computer programmers Brian Acton and Jan Koum – former employees of Yahoo | |
| It’s one of the most popular messaging services in the world | |
| Koum came up with the name WhatsApp because it sounded like “what’s up” | |
| After a number of tweaks the app was released with a messaging component in June 2009, with 250,000 active users | |
| It was originally free but switched to a paid service to avoid growing too fast | |
| Facebook bought WhatsApp Inc in February 2014 for $19.3billion (£14.64bn) | |
| The app is particularly popular because all messages are encrypted during transit, shutting out snoopers | |
| As of February 2017, WhatsApp has over 1.2 billion users globally |
How to get WhatsApp beta
To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp. Scroll down the page until you see “Become a Beta Tester”. Tap the “I’m In” button and then click “Join” to confirm.
Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.
Downloading WhatsApp beta on iOS is a much trickier and riskier process so this is not recommended.
However, WhatsApp beta can be downloaded on a computer via the Google Play site.
