Secret WhatsApp version features self-destructing texts and lets you log-in on OTHER phones
NEW features could soon be coming to WhatsApp.
According to an update submitted through the Google Play Beta Program, an expiring messages feature is under development.
WhatsApp fansite revealed that users of WhatsApp beta could soon be testing the message deleting feature.
WhatsApp beta is a version of the messaging app which users can download if they want to test out the latest features that the company is trialling before it decides whether to put them on the normal version.
Screenshots of the trialled features suggest users will be able to determine how long a message can be seen before it expires.
As well as expiring messages, WhatsApp is also said to be trialling a way for users to use their account on several devices.
This multiple device feature means you could have several phones with the same WhatsApp account on them.
As with all features trialled in beta mode, we don't know when or if they will ever be rolled out to the mainstream.
How to get WhatsApp beta
To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp.
Scroll down the page until you see "Become a Beta Tester".
Tap the "I'm In" button and then click "Join" to confirm.
Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.
Downloading WhatsApp beta on iOS is a much trickier and riskier process so this is not recommended.
However, WhatsApp beta can be downloaded on a computer via the Google Play site.
WhatsApp – a quick history
Here's what you need to know...
- WhatsApp was created in 2009 by computer programmers Brian Acton and Jan Koum - former employees of Yahoo
- It's one of the most popular messaging services in the world
- Koum came up with the name WhatsApp because it sounded like "what's up"
- After a number of tweaks the app was released with a messaging component in June 2009, with 250,000 active users
- It was originally free but switched to a paid service to avoid growing too fast. Then in 2016, it became free again for all users
- Facebook bought WhatsApp Inc in February 2014 for $19.3billion (£14.64bn)
- The app is particularly popular because all messages are encrypted during transit, shutting out snoopers
- As of January 2018, WhatsApp has over 2billion users globally
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What features do you wish WhatsApp had? Let us know in the comments...
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