In its new Android beta update, WhatsApp has given a glimpse of two most anticipated features – advanced search and multiple support that it has been working on for quite some time.
The social giant has reportedly been working on enabling the accounts to work on multiple devices and the latest beta release has given us a glimpse of how the UI might look like and also what it might be called. Also, it seems that the work on advanced search mode has been ongoing and similarly WhatsApp has shown the UI improvements made with the integration of this feature.
WhatsApp shares a screenshot of “Linked Devices” feature on Twitter
In the multi-support feature, WABetaInfo tweeted, that one account could be used on four devices simultaneously in the future. The tweet also had a screenshot that suggested that data on devices would be synced using Wi-Fi connectivity. Also, as per the screenshot, WhatsApp maybe calling it “Linked Devices” and it could be accessed through the three dots icon on the top right of the screen.
This “Linked Devices” feature will allow the user to add a new device, and like the WhatsApp Web feature, it will report all linked devices to the user’s WhatsApp account. There is no information yet on whether the update will be cross-platform i.e whether a user having both an Android phone and an iPad will be able to use the feature.
Multi-device support first noticed in November 2019
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WABetaInfo had first noticed signs of multi-device support in WhatsApp in November 2019 on both iOS and Android. At that time, the user would be asked for registration code from a secondary phone, and a hidden warning text in chats which suggested hints of multi-device support.
In WhatsApp beta v 2.20.110, WABetaInfo observed more clues that suggested the ability of multi-device support. When a user’s E2E security code changed, the team managed to trigger different event messages, which again hinted at multi-device support.
“Linked Devices” still in the development stage
While the “Linked Devices” feature is still under development and can’t be manually enabled, we can continue to use WhatsApp Web/Desktop, till we get access to the new beta version.
To date, messaging applications have always relied on accounts and not phone numbers and hence there has been no issue with multi-device support. With the launch of WhatsApp, the users joined a platform for the first time through phone numbers but also realized that it came at a price of convenience. Messengers like Telegram have found a way around it and it is high time WhatsApp did it too.