Last month, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that WhatsApp would soon receive the multi-device function. Now the most talked about and anticipated feature is slowly moving around a known momentum.
The feature has just been made available for a limited public beta test for a small clique of users. Users had been strongly demanding support for multiple devices on WhatsApp. The reason? It allows them to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices without the condition of a smartphone.
What it essentially means is that users can use WhatsApp on their laptops, tablets, etc. that do not have cellular connectivity. Chats from all devices including the one different from your phone will be synced in current time.
Facebook announced the public beta test via an official blog post. It says that the apps on the other devices will continue to work even if your phone is down; this is not the case of the contemporary WhatsApp web portal. On top of that, the company says that to ensure a seamless experience on a single device and prolong the end-to-end puzzle across all devices, it had to rework the transport platform block.
WhatsApp multi-device function: how it works
Although WhatsApp is establishing some basic rules that will define how the multi-device function will work. First, only four companion devices can be connected to the same account at the same time; no lock, only one of them can be a smartphone. On top of that, if apps on other platforms are to remain separate, you’ll need to link your account to the new devices using your phone. And finally, if the phone that has the basic WhatsApp account remains inactive for 14 days, the apps of other devices will be closed automatically.
Facebook has clarified that it is testing the feature with a small number of users under beta software. However, it has not made it clear which countries are eligible for beta testing. Whatsapp has listed the process that must be followed to sign up for the beta testing software that has been created specifically for this feature.
If Zuckerberg had correctly insinuated that this new feature is extremely technical and complicated, Facebook has tried to explain the technical hype behind this feature.
And given that this is a complicated process that ensures end-to-end enigmatic remains, we may have to settle with some limitations, at least until the developers come up with a decision.
What you should keep in mind
Here’s a quick list to keep in mind before you try activate the multi-device function of WhatsApp for you:
- Live location scenery on companion devices.
- Pin chats on WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
- Join, view, and restore group invites from WhatsApp Web and Desktop. On your surface, you will need to use your phone.
- Sending messages or calling someone who is using a very old WhatsApp reading on their phone will not work from their paired device.
- Call from Portal or WhatsApp Desktop to linked devices that are not enrolled in the multi-device beta reading.
- Other WhatsApp accounts on your portal will not work unless those accounts have joined the beta reading from multiple devices.
- WhatsApp Business users cannot edit their company name or labels from WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
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