5 new features coming to WhatsApp

Messaging service WhatsApp is developing several new features for its platform – with some coming sooner than others, such as the on-tap call link, which started rolling out at the beginning of the week.

According to WABetaInfo, the new call linking feature will allow users to generate a link for a call to share with others, so they can join the call with a single tap.

WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart noted that the feature is compatible with both audio and video calls and will be accessible through a banner at the top of the Calls tab.

Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg announced on Facebook that the new call linking feature would arrive on the messaging platform within the week. The platform is also testing secure encrypted video calling for up to 32 people.

Other notable features coming to WhatsApp include a Do not disturb API for missed calls; a camera update; an option to save disappearing messages; and a document caption for android.

These additional updates are detailed below according to WABetaInfo:

• Do not disturb API: This feature will allow WhatsApp to detect when the do not disturb mode was enabled. When a call is missed, and the do not disturb mode is enabled on iOS, the reason why the call was missed is highlighted within the conversation and the call history section. This information is only visible on your side, so the recipient doesn’t know that you missed the call because the do not disturb mode was enabled on your device. This feature is currently under development.

• Camera update: WhatsApp is working on two new buttons to let users switch the camera mode from photo to video and vice versa. In the current version of WhatsApp, you need to tap and hold to record a video, but thanks to this feature, you do not need to tap and hold in the future but just switch to the video mode. This feature is currently under development and will be available for both Android and iOS.

• Save disappearing messages: Now that WhatsApp allows users to enable disappearing messages – where messages will disappear after seven days – a new feature will soon allow users to save selected messages. All saved disappearing messages will be listed in a new “kept messages” section. This will be especially handy in work groups, where users can save important notices. It must be noted that only admins can keep or unkeep messages in groups. This feature is still under development.

• Document caption for android: Thanks to this feature, it will be possible for Android users to attach a caption to a document before sharing it. This new feature will also allow users to view a preview of the document before sharing it.

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