WhatsApp's latest Android betas reveal two new features coming to the app
Yesterday evening, a new beta version of WhatsApp was unveiled, offering a preview of forthcoming features for the app. WaBetaInfo and Android Authority contributor/tipster Assemble Debug were among those who highlighted these upcoming WhatsApp features, which encompass an in-app dialler and a novel Hidden Group setting designed for Communities.
The in-app dialler was spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.24.9.28 for Android. It’s unclear how WhatsApp plans to implement it, but the presence of a standalone dialler in the app indicates that the platform might soon let users call unsaved contacts by straightaway dialing a phone number. This makes sense because it was previously revealed that WhatsApp is also working on a way for users to quickly start chats with unsaved contacts, something that’s currently impossible.
The inclusion of a dialler in WhatsApp would be a valuable enhancement, particularly for occasions when users prefer not to store new contacts they plan to interact with only briefly. This feature eliminates the need to make traditional cellular calls to unsaved contacts and provides the convenience of utilizing internet connectivity by directly dialing through WhatsApp, bypassing the requirement to first save a phone number in the contacts list.
The newly introduced Hidden Group feature aims to maintain the secrecy of Community groups. This feature was identified in WhatsApp beta version 2.24.9.27 but is not yet accessible to all beta testers. However, Assemble Debug succeeded in activating it through certain flags. It appears that this setting will permit only invited members to discover and join a community group, with only community admins having the ability to locate and remove the group from the community. span>
