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Tag: messaging

  • Snapchat+ officially launched a premium subscription

    Snapchat+ officially launched a premium subscription

    Snap has just announced the launch of a new premium tier for customers who want a little bit more features and faster support. The announcement comes less than a month since another social app, Telegram introduced a similar service for those who want extra features.

    Snap’s new premium tier is called Snapchat+ and is available in Snapchat for $3.99/month. Unlike Telegram that already informed customers about what they’ll get for the premium tier, Snap’s announcement is rather vague.

    According to the social company, Snapchat+ will offer “a collection of exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features.” As far as the reasoning behind the premium tier, Snap claims that the subscription will help the company provide fans willing to pay with new Snapchat features and “prioritized support.”

    For the time being, Snapchat+ will only be available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. However, Snap confirmed plans to expand availability of its premium tier to more countries over time. Is this something that you’d pay for because it’s useful or do you think it’s just a cash grab?

  • Telegram founder publicly attacks Apple’s Safari browser for iOS for its restrictions

    Telegram founder publicly attacks Apple’s Safari browser for iOS for its restrictions

    Currently, there’s an investigation by a UK agency on Apple and Safari. And, it seems the UK is not the only one raising its brows when it comes to Apple’s web browser. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has now publicly criticized the iOS version of Safari, accusing it of restricting developer options for the web.

    Durov has shared his criticism on his public channel on Telegram. He claims that Apple is intentionally restricting web app features and that this limits developers from what they can do in iOS. The restrictions that Apple currently has for web apps impact the web version of Telegram too.

    Additionally, he suspects Apple’s reasoning behind this is to force users to download native apps from the App Store, and he brings up the 30% commission fee that Apple takes on purchases made via the App Store. Many developers have had issues with the infamous ‘Apple Tax’, as this 30% cut has unofficially been called.

    Telegram is available in the App Store; however, not everything was sailing smoothly for the company. In the past, Telegram has reportedly faced some issues with Apple’s review process because of its public channels (where there are no content restrictions). Telegram has a web version with all the same features – but it is also limited on iPads and iPhones.

    “Safari is killing the web” points out Durov, citing developers complaining about Apple’s native browser and a blog post on HTTP Toolkit, which lists multiple ways in which Safari is not helping the web. The blog post lists reasons such as Safari omitting features, many bugs present and the slow speed at which those are fixed, and ignoring proposed APIs by the Chrome team.

    Apart from citing the mentioned above article, Durov also highlights that Telegram developers have signaled a list of 10 issues they have with Safari on iOS. Among those, there is the lack of push notifications, random reloading, slow application of blur effects, and sometimes appearing visual artifacts. The post also includes a few more development-related things missing from Safari’s toolkit.

    The UK investigation, which we mentioned in the beginning of this article, is also highlighted in Durov’s post. He hopes that the investigation will lead to regulatory action against Apple Safari’s restrictions and shortcomings.

    The investigation he is talking about is actually going to be led by UK’s CMA, a watchdog who’s recently found Apple and Google to have an “effective duopoly” in the mobile tech market because of Safari and Chrome. The agency is now going to look at Safari’s WebKit restrictions under a microscope, to determine whether or not those are harming competition and innovation.

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  • WhatsApp has a message edit feature in the works

    WhatsApp has a message edit feature in the works

    Texting with an out-of-control auto-correct is hilarious sometimes (we have all had our fair share of funny auto-correct situations, don’t pretend like you didn’t have any!), but other times, making an error in your text message can actually even cause trouble or misunderstandings. Well, for that, WhatsApp is working on allowing you to edit your message, and this very helpful feature has been spotted under development for WhatsApp for iOS, Android, and desktop.

    The popular chat app has previously tested an edit feature back in 2017, but that one never made it to a stable version of the app. Now, however, and it is currently under development. This means it is not yet available for beta testing, but it might be soon.

    As you could probably imagine, the feature will allow you to edit your text message. The preview that WABetaInfo shared about the feature shows you can tap and hold on to a message, select the three-dotted icon on the top and choose Edit.

    For now, it seems the Edit history of a message won’t be displayed, but as we already stated, given the fact that this feature is still under development, changes to how it functions are possible. At the moment, there’s no information about the time frame you have to edit a message after it’s been sent

    So far, there’s no specific date disclosed yet as to when it will make it to the public. Before that, it will first appear to WhatsApp beta testers to iron out any issues with it, before getting an official release.

    WhatsApp has recently been all about improving the experience you have on the chat app. It has now launched message reactions, as well as the possibility to send larger files in chat, and the edit feature the company is currently working on will hopefully complement this great feature set soon. When we know more, we’ll let you know, so stay tuned!

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  • Snapchat upgrades Custom Stories feature, adds more safety improvements

    Snapchat upgrades Custom Stories feature, adds more safety improvements

    Snapchat’s latest new feature is trying to make users socialize more within the social app. Shared Stories is a new way for Snapchat users to involve friends in the creation of Stories. The new feature is the evolution of Custom Stories, which previously allowed users to make a Story and add friends to view and contribute.

    With the new Shared Stories feature, Snapchat users who have been added to a group can add their friends too. Designed with privacy in mind, Snaps sent to a Shared Story delete after 24 hours. Also, these Shared Stories do not have any chat component, so conversations will remain private between friends.

    Additionally, Snap revealed that content will be carefully moderated using a mix of automatic language detection and new community review tools. More importantly, Snapchat users will be notified once they join a Shared Story with someone they’ve blocked, allowing them to leave the Shared Story if they want too.

    The new Shared Stories feature is now rolling out to Snapchat users across the world on all supported platforms, but it might take a few days to reach everyone.

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  • Snapchat is supposedly developing “Family Center,” its version of parental controls

    Snapchat is supposedly developing “Family Center,” its version of parental controls

    In October 2021, Evan Spiegel, who is Snap’s CEO, teased that Snapchat is planning to introduce parental controls to the platform, which would provide parents with a better understanding of how their children use the app. Now, new screenshots taken by the product intelligence firm Watchful and shared with TechCrunch indicate that Snapchat may indeed be developing such a feature.

    From the pictures, we understand that Snapchat’s parental controls will be called “Family Center” and will enable parents to do several things. First, they will be able to find out who their teen’s friends are by opening their child’s friend list. This is unique because you can’t actually view other people’s contacts on Snapchat.

    Second, it will allow parents to monitor who their teenager has chatted with in the last seven days. However, they will not be able to open and read the chats.

    But in order for all these things mentioned above to happen, teens must first give their consent. Yes, for parents to see what their children are doing on the platform, they will first need to invite them to their “Family Center.” The receiver of the invitation can either accept it or decline it.

    Bear in mind that “Family Center” is currently under development, and the final feature may differ from what’s described here. But even if there are some changes indeed, it’s most likely the feature will look more or less the same. Currently, on Snapchat, minors’ accounts are private and do not appear in search results or as friend suggestions unless they share friends. Also, youngsters must accept each other as friends before they can start chatting.

    According to Snap’s NewFronts presentation to advertisers, the Snapchat app now reaches more than 75% of 13 to 34-year-olds in over 20 countries, and 80 percent of Gen Z (10–25 years) in the United States had watched at least one of Snap’s Original series. Safe to say, parental controls within the app have been long overdue.

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  • Google Chat receives another protection against phishing attacks

    Google Chat receives another protection against phishing attacks

    Phishing scams are widespread, and if you are not careful enough, you can become a victim of one. As a result, Google has embedded warning messages in its Gmail and Google Drive services, alerting users when the apps discover suspicious links or malware. And this safety feature is finally rolling out to Google Chat as well.

    In a blog post, Google announced that Google Chat users will see these warning banners when they receive suspicious links from people with personal Google Accounts. When you get one, Chats should display a big red banner saying, “This invite is suspicious,” letting you know that the conversation contains links to known phishing sites.

    The banner gives you a choice to either block the message or, if you are sure that it is safe, accept it despite the warning. Of course, these alerts are intended to make you pause for a moment and consider whether the sender of the message can be trusted, in the hope that you will be more cautious.

    Google stated that the new Chat feature will be available to Google Workspace, G Suite Basic and Business customers, and users with personal Google Accounts within the next 15 days.

  • WhatsApp will stop working on iPhones running iOS 10 and iOS 11 from late October

    WhatsApp will stop working on iPhones running iOS 10 and iOS 11 from late October

    WhatsApp will stop working on iPhones running iOS 10 and iOS 11 later this year, reports WABetaInfo. The WhatsApp Help Center also says that only iOS 12 and newer versions are supported currently.
    Meta-owned, WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps in the world and the company often adds new features to the app. Older operating systems may not support new functionalities, which is why newer versions don’t work on older platforms.

    It also costs money to support older operating systems, and this doesn’t make sense if only a small percentage of people are on older platforms.

    WhatsApp has started warning iPhone users on iOS 10 and iOS 11 that they must upgrade to iOS 12 or newer to keep using the app. Otherwise, the app will stop working on their phones after October 24.
    In case you are wondering, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c are the two phones that are running iOS 10 and iOS 11 at the moment and they are not eligible for another OS upgrade. Considering these devices came out around ten years ago, it’s safe to assume not many people are using them anymore. According to a January report, 72 percent of compatible iPhone models released in the last four years are on iOS 15.

    Consumers who have the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6S can continue using the app, for now. If you are an Android user, your phone needs to be on OS 4.1 or newer.

    It’s best to upgrade if your phone is no longer supported by security updates, otherwise, you put yourself at risk. If your budget is tight, there are plenty of cheap options around. Check out our list of the best budget phones of 2022 for more details.
    Otherwise, you can always look for WhatsApp alternatives or make do with simple text messages.
  • WhatsApp finally improves voice messaging experience, adds new features

    WhatsApp finally improves voice messaging experience, adds new features

    As people start using voice messaging more and more, apps like WhatsApp must fine-tune the experience provided by their services. Initially introduced back in 2013, WhatsApp’s voice messaging service hasn’t evolved too much over the years, despite its userbase becoming larger.

    Today, WhatsApp announced plans to improve the voice messaging experience on its platform with the addition of several nifty features:

    • Out of Chat Playback: Listen to a voice message outside of the chat so you can multitask or read and respond to other messages.
    • Pause/Resume Recording: When recording a voice message, you can now pause the recording and resume when ready, in case you’re interrupted or need to gather your thoughts.
    • Waveform Visualization: Shows a visual representation of the sound on the voice message to help follow the recording.
    • Draft Preview: Listen to your voice messages before sending them.
    • Remember Playback: If you pause when listening to a voice message, you can pick up where you left off when you return to the chat.
    • Fast Playback on Forwarded Messages: Play voice messages at 1.5x or 2x speeds to listen to messages faster on both regular and forwarded messages.

    While these new features may not be available for everyone right away, WhatsApp announced that they will be rolled out to users in the coming weeks, so be patient if you don’t see them on your phone yet.

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  • WhatsApp testing a massive increase in file size limit for send and receive feature

    WhatsApp testing a massive increase in file size limit for send and receive feature

    If you’ve ever wanted to send a big file via WhatsApp and were greeted with the fact that the chat app can’t send it for you — well, this might be ending soon, as WhatsApp is testing a new 2GB file size limit. The company has been looking into ways to improve the WhatsApp experience for its user, and this change is the latest effort Meta is pouring into the end-to-end encrypted chat service.

    WABetaInfo discovered the new limit on files you can send via WhatsApp in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android and iOS. Currently, the new file size limit has only been rolled out to users in Argentina, but it will most likely be released globally soon too.

    Before this update, WhatsApp had a limit of 100MB for files you wanted to send or receive on the chat service. With this new change, this limit will be raised significantly to 2GB. As we already mentioned above, the feature has been rolled out to a small number of beta testers, currently located in Argentina.

    It is important to mention that this is a test feature, so it is still possible WhatsApp could decide to backtrack on it and not release it globally, but we do hope it will be able to work out any bugs that it might have and release it to everyone. There is no timeline as of yet on this test and a possible subsequent official release of the feature.

    This is just one of the many features that WhatsApp has currently been working on to make your experience on the app even better. One of the long-anticipated WhatsApp features that is about to become official is multi-device support.

    We reported recently on the fact that the long-awaited and very useful multi-device support is now finally coming to both Android and iOS (it will first be released on iOS by the end of this month, and Android users should get it sometime in April).

    Why is this WhatsApp feature so important? Well, for those of you who don’t know, currently you can use WhatsApp on PC or Mac to chat, but you need your iPhone or Android phone to be online at all times so that the chat will work. That is because WhatsApp is currently storing your identity key for the end-to-end encryption on your phone.

    However, this is about to change with the new WhatsApp update that is coming. With it, you will be able to have your WhatsApp account on up to four additional devices, which you can use at all times without having your phone online as each of them will have its own identity key.

    Another useful feature that WhatsApp introduced recently is the ability to react to messages sent on the chat app with emoji. Many of the existing instant messaging apps have this feature and WhatsApp is indeed a little bit late to it, but nevertheless, the feature was spotted in a recent beta of the app which means it can soon be officially released as well.

    Once it becomes official, you will have six reactions to messages sent to you on WhatsApp: Like, Love, Laugh, Surprised, Sad, and Thanks.

    And last but not least, another useful feature WhatsApp is working on is search shortcuts. Currently, you have a somewhat lengthy process to follow if you wish to search from your messages in WhatsApp, which includes locating a specific chat or group chat window, then tapping on the three-dots menu and searching. It seems that the app will be getting a simpler way to search for a message in a future update.

    WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.22.6.3 brings the new search shortcut. Although it sounds similar to WhatsApp’s current solution for searches, it is different in the way that it allows you to search right from the info page of personal contacts and groups, without having to go to a specific group or chat where you think the message was sent.

  • WhatsApp for iOS has a new Contact Info page in the works

    WhatsApp for iOS has a new Contact Info page in the works

    Okay, WhatsApp is looking for ways to further enhance the user experience in its app, and there are many changes coming to the app sooner or later (many of which are currently in beta testing).About one such change the app will be bringing: a revamped Contact Info page, coming to WhatsApp for iOS.

    The redesigned Contact Info page is currently only for WhatsApp on iOS, and it has been rolled out to beta testers. The page is similar to what the app did with Business accounts, but now, it is for personal accounts. The changed Contact Info page was spotted by WABetaInfo with version 22.6.0.73 for WhatsApp for iOS.

    As we already mentioned, this look is still in beta, so it is not available to the general public as of now. Usually, WhatsApp takes its time to release new features, but currently, there isn’t an official timeline as to when this update will be made available to everyone.

    The new Contact Info page brings larger buttons for calls, as well as a new search message shortcut. For Business accounts, there is also a page dubbed Business Info there, which is, quite understandably, not available for personal WhatsApp accounts.

    Interestingly enough, according to WABetaInfo, some users can get access to the revamped Contact Info page even if they are not a part of the beta testers, which means, that for some, it is available on the stable version of the app (including WhatsApp Business users).

    Another useful feature that WhatsApp is planning to implement, specifically for Businesses, is called “Businesses Nearby”, and as its name suggests, it will be able to help you find nearby businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, shops for clothes, and others.

    And on top of that, WhatsApp is also currently working on its Community feature, something that was previewed by WABetaInfo in November of last year. It is basically a new place where group admins will have control over WhatsApp groups, pretty much helpful if you have many WhatsApp groups and want to have a more simple way to group them together and organize them.

    The company has been working on a lot of new features recently, which are aimed at adding value to the popular chat app. Of course, as the name suggests, the poll feature will allow you to create polls (we don’t know with how many options as of yet), in order to check out the group’s opinion on something or just carry out a regular voting session.

    The poll option will be available only for WhatsApp groups, and it will be end-to-end encrypted, including the answers the other users give to it. As many of you may probably know, end-to-end encryption is something WhatsApp is quite popular with, and it will be present for the poll feature as well. This pretty much means only the people in the group will be able to get access to the poll and its results.

    And as this is a feature in its beta testing period, an official release date is not announced for it yet. As usual, beta testers will get to see how this feature works first, as WhatsApp works to get rid of any bugs and improve on it before it launches it for the general public.

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  • Google tests new feature for Gboard that delivers sticker recommendations based on text

    Google tests new feature for Gboard that delivers sticker recommendations based on text

    More than two years ago Google introduced Android users to the Emoji Kitchen. This feature delivers sticker recommendations that are the combination of two different emojis. Think of it this way, the emotions from one emoji are combined with the characteristics from a second emoji.

    The combinations are created by Google and are played strictly for laughs. What is interesting is how your Android phone decides which delicacies to serve you. These Emoji fusion stickers are based on the text you have been tapping out along with any emoji you selected for your missive.

    Now, Google is testing another new Gboard feature that presents users with sticker suggestions based on what they are writing. This time, the color and style of suggested stickers are based on the words and emoji you are entering into your text. Some Reddit users spotted the feature back in November but it remains in beta.

    Examples show a text exchange between spouses with one writing to the other “See you soon ” with a heart emoji. Underneath that field, where suggested words are, well, suggested, you will see a sticker. Tap on it and in that same location, horizontal scrolling sticker options will appear. Some have the exact text that you typed while others might not show any text at all.

    These contextually-based stickers appear to be available only when using this feature and do not show up when looking at the full library of emoji and stickers on your phone. With, the feature still in beta, if you’re using the public stable version of the app, you will not be able to use this feature yet.

    If you want to join the Gboard beta and get access to this feature now, you can Google “Gboard beta” and you should see a page that will allow you to join the beta program. You can leave the beta at any time by repeating the directions above and tapping on the box at the lower right corner that says “Leave The Program.”

    If you enjoy testing out new features for apps before the rest of the Android users on your block get to use them, Google has options for you. For a more comprehensive way to join the beta versions of all Android apps, go to the Google Play Store and tap the profile icon in the upper right corner. Tap on Manage apps & devices and then Installed. Tap on an app to get to its detail page and under “Join the beta,” tap on “Join” and then “Join.”

    If you don’t see an option to “join the beta,” it means that the developer is not offering public beta testing for that particular app. To return to a public or stable version of the app, open the Play Store and tap the profile icon. Go to Manage apps & devices and then Beta.

    Tap on the app whose beta program you want to leave to see its detail page and you’ll see a notice that you are a beta tester. Under the “You’re a beta tester” notice, tap on “Leave.” But that isn’t the end. If you want to continue using an app’s public version on Android after leaving the beta, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the Google Play Store.

    The point of offering beta tests is for the developer to get feedback from users before a new feature is disseminated to all users of a particular app. So if you do have feedback to share with a developer, once again you open the Play Store and tap on the profile icon followed by Manage apps & devices and then Beta. Tap on the app you want to provide feedback on to see its detail page.

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  • Google Messages update allows users to send Photos links for sharper videos and pictures

    Google Messages update allows users to send Photos links for sharper videos and pictures

    Some changes are rolling out to the Google Messages app and it appears that hamburger is back on the menu. Or perhaps we should say that the hamburger menu is back. The redesign has surfaced for some who are using the beta version of the Messages app and it replaces the three-dot menu in the upper right corner with a hamburger menu on the left side of the display.

    Options currently found in the three-dot menu will be moved to the hamburger menu such as “Messages,” “Starred,” “Archived,” and “Spam & blocked.” Other options such as “Device Pairing” and “Choose Theme” will be listed in a separate section at the bottom of this menu.

    You’ll know when the change has hit your phone because the first time you open the app after the update, you’ll be prompted to enable Google Photos integration for the Messages app. “Share videos as they’re meant to be seen” reads the prompt follow-up with “Preserve sharp video clarity when you sign in and send Google Photos links.” A link at the bottom of the page allows for the use of the Messages app without a Google account.

    You will have a couple of choices that you can toggle on including one that will always send a link to Google Photos when you use Messages to share a video by text (SMS/MMS), and another option that will always send a Google Photos link when you text images via SMS/MMS. By allowing the Google Photos link to be sent with videos and images, you are giving the recipients of such content via Google Messages the ability to view them in a higher quality than if you sent them via MMS.

    While the update is being disseminated to some of those who are members of the app’s beta program, not all beta members are currently receiving it. Certainly, Google will widen the distribution of the update once it hears feedback from users.

    If you’ve received complaints about the quality of the videos and pictures that you’ve shared via Google Messages, this is a clever way to send higher quality content using that app with an assist from Google Photos.

  • Google fixes the issue of Android Auto not displaying messages

    Google fixes the issue of Android Auto not displaying messages

    Google has fixed an issue preventing Android Auto from displaying messages on a car’s screen. To receive the fix, you need to update your Android Auto and Messages app to the latest versions. Google did not explain what the cause of the problem was.

    Google’s fix comes in response to several customer complaints on Android Auto’s support page. Several users reported that after updating their phones to Android 12, their cars stopped showing the received messages.

    A user shared in a post: “For the past three weeks, Android Auto has stopped showing new text or other messages. If music is playing and a new message comes in, the music is turned down briefly as if to allow the new message notification to sound, but no sound and no message comes to the auto display, even though new messages have arrived on the phone.”

    Not showing received messages isn’t the only issue Android Auto users have encountered recently. As we previously reported, users who had updated their Android Auto app encountered a problem with Google Maps not appearing on their cars’ screens when they had their phones connected to their vehicles. Although the issue has been reported, it still remains for Google to roll out a fix for that problem too.

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  • WhatsApp’s unlimited Google Drive backups may be coming to an end

    WhatsApp’s unlimited Google Drive backups may be coming to an end

    So far, WhatsApp has been offering unlimited storage on Google Drive for WhatsApp backups. The company offers backup options to iCloud as well (for iPhone users), there, it has been limited to whatever storage tier the iPhone user has. Now, something similar might be happening for Android users.

    The popular chat app seems to be planning a change regarding backups on Android phones. Lines in the code of the app point to the fact that WhatsApp may be losing its unlimited Google Drive storage option for backups. This news comes after the info that WhatsApp could be letting you manage the size of your backup in the near future.

    The code was first discovered by WABetaInfo, and it is a hidden code that references Google Drive limits.

    Keep in mind that the date on which this will happen is still unknown, so for now, you can still benefit from unlimited storage on Google Drive. The thing is that the arrangement with Google allowed WhatsApp backups to now count against the users’ Google Drive storage.

    However, WhatsApp seems to be planning to include a storage limit, but the exact limits the app will impose are not yet clear. Hopefully, the backup storage for WhatsApp won’t count towards the 15GB limit for the free tier (but this is, at this point in time, unconfirmed).

    This information comes after WABetaInfo discovered an upcoming WhatsApp feature that will allow you to manage your WhatsApp backup size on Android. This feature will allow you to customize what items get backed up, and exclude certain types of files from the backup. Files you might be able to exclude are photos, documents, and videos.

    Judging by that, it seems WhatsApp is really in the works of imposing backup limitations for Android users of the app. With the ability to manage your Google Drive backup, WhatsApp will be giving you options to save some storage space (if your chat backups are getting too big).

    All that being said, WhatsApp ditching unlimited Google Drive storage shouldn’t come as a surprise, after the fact that Google abandoned unlimited Google Photos backups last year. It seems the Mountain View tech giant is pushing for paid storage plans, and this seems to be reflected in the WhatsApp backup limitations that are currently in the works as well.

    A few months ago, WABetaInfo showcased the feature (currently under development) that will enable you to have tighter control on what gets backed up to Google Drive from the app itself.

    As you can see in the image below, the app will be offering ways for you to modify what gets backed up to Google Drive and what to exclude (probably in order to save space from your Google Drive storage).

    The feature seen above could be included in a future update of WhatsApp, and it definitely should if WhatsApp will be limiting the backup storage. Both of these two features don’t have an official release date yet, but we’ll make sure to inform you if they go official.

    For now, as we mentioned above, WhatsApp backups still don’t count against your Google Drive storage quota because of an agreement between WhatsApp and Google.WhatsApp has been getting loads of updates and planning lots of new features for its interface and users. Recently, we reported on the fact iPad users might finally be getting a WhatsApp app designed specifically for the iPad. Another useful feature that might be coming soon will be the ability to easily transfer chats from Android to iOS.

  • WhatsApp CEO hints at iPad app release

    WhatsApp CEO hints at iPad app release

    WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart lent some hopeful words to fans of the messaging platform during an interview this week, when he announced that the company is looking into creating a native iPad WhatsApp app.

    WhatsApp users have long been nagging the Facebook-owned company to make a viable app for Apple’s iPad, but WhatsApp has been holding off—just like Instagram still lacks a native iPad app as well.

    The reason for this is that until now, the way that data was encrypted on the WhatsApp platform didn’t allow for the company to safely sync it across multiple devices while maintaining the same level of encryption. However, according to Will Cathcart, the underlying technology has been evolving, and WhatsApp has been hard at work to make this possible in the future.

    “We did a lot of work on the technology for supporting multiple devices,” Cathcart said in the interview.

    “Our web and our desktop apps now have that. If I have a multi-device on, I can turn my phone off or lose my network connection and still get messages on my desktop. That would be really important for a tablet app, to be able to use the app even if your phone isn’t on. So the underlying technology is there.”

    WhatsApp’s beta version of multi-device support, created last year, allowed users to link up to four devices at a time to their account. However, the downside was that you needed your phone to be connected to the internet the whole time for it to work—and even the beta version didn’t include any iPad support.

    With the new technology allowing for data to remain encrypted while syncing, and Cathcart’s positive outlook, it seems that a native WhatsApp app may just be looming on the horizon after all.