A new feature is under testing that will allow WhatsApp users to message without using their mobile phones. This change is the very first of its kind for WhatsApp Messenger.
Currently, WhatsApp is linked to your mobile phones, and to connect its desktop and web apps that device should have an active internet connection to receive messages. The new feature will let users send and receive messages even if the mobile phone’s battery is dead. Excluding mobile phones, four other devices like PCs and tablets can be used together.
To begin with, the new feature will be rolled out for small groups of users which will be a part of testing that new feature. This testing will enable the overhaul of the feature before rolling it out in the market for every user. End-to-end encryption is the main feature of WhatsApp and the main reason why people opt to use this app will continue to work even if this new feature rolls out.
Many apps, including Signal, offer a feature where a mobile phone is needed for sign-up but not for sending and receiving messages. WhatsApp users, numbering around two billion, have also requested this capability.
In a blog post announcing the feature, WhatsApp engineers highlighted the need to redesign its software. Currently, the app relies on smartphones as the primary source of truth for user data and encryption, with WhatsApp Web and other non-smartphone apps reflecting mobile functionality, albeit with occasional disconnection issues.
This means using WhatsApp on another device will no longer disconnect a WhatsApp Web window, thanks to the new multi-device architecture ensuring encrypted, secure, and private data transmission.WhatsApp is gearing up to introduce a groundbreaking feature that allows users to message without their mobile phones. This marks a significant departure for the messaging giant, which traditionally requires a phone connection for its desktop and web apps to function.
Presently, WhatsApp operates in tandem with users’ mobile phones, necessitating an active internet connection on the device to send and receive messages through its desktop or web counterparts. However, with the impending rollout of this new feature, users will gain the ability to communicate even if their phone’s battery is dead. Moreover, the feature will extend functionality to four additional devices such as PCs and tablets, enabling seamless messaging across multiple platforms.
Initially, this feature will undergo testing with small groups of users to refine its performance and address any issues before a broader release. Despite these advancements, WhatsApp remains committed to preserving its hallmark end-to-end encryption, ensuring that user communications remain secure and private.
The demand for such a feature has been palpable among WhatsApp’s two billion users, echoing similar functionalities offered by competitors like Signal, where a phone is essential for registration but not for ongoing messaging operations.
In an official blog post unveiling the feature, WhatsApp engineers emphasized the need for a software overhaul. Currently, the app heavily relies on smartphones as the primary hub for user data and encryption, with WhatsApp Web and other non-mobile interfaces mirroring mobile functionality, albeit with occasional connectivity lapses.
With the new multi-device architecture, WhatsApp aims to eliminate the inconvenience of disconnecting WhatsApp Web when switching devices. This redesign promises to maintain robust encryption protocols while facilitating seamless and secure communication across various platforms.
Overall, WhatsApp’s upcoming feature heralds a new era of flexibility and accessibility for its users, empowering them to stay connected regardless of their device’s status, all while upholding stringent privacy standards.
