WhatsApp Tests Using QR Codes to More Easily Share Contacts

WhatsApp is testing the use of QR codes to let users add contacts to the messaging platform, reports WABetaInfo.

The feature appears in beta versions for both iOS and Android, and can be found in the app's settings menu, which includes options to display your own QR code and scan the codes of other users. QR codes can also be revoked if users decide they'd rather not share their number with someone anymore.

The beta feature is a long-overdue way of adding contacts to WhatsApp directly. Currently users must first add a contact via the Contacts tab in Apple's Phone app. Only after then can they open WhatsApp and send them a message.

Using a QR code instead would skip this step and make the process a lot more convenient, although it's unknown when the feature will make it into a public release.

WhatsApp recently implemented new restrictions on the mass forwarding of messages in an effort to slow the spread of misinformation on the chat platform, and also added a group video chat capability for up to eight users at once.

Tag: WhatsApp

Top Rated Comments

macintoshmac

77 months ago

WhatsApp is still the best messaging app in the world. The most ubiquitous, easy to use and feature-rich.

The only cons: 1) Owned by Facebook. 2) No iPad or iPod app.

Owned by Facebook, and recently started uploading contacts to their servers instead of accessing contacts on-device like they used to. So, effectively, they are going to end up with the largest phone number directory in the world, privacy be damned.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MacBH928

77 months ago

And again: privacy is a myth these days. No company (including Apple) offers you privacy.

Privacy is not a myth, if you use software that respects your privacy you will limit the exposure of your personal life.

If you use: Signal for messaging, FireFox for browsing, adblocks, PiHole, Linux for OS, ProtonMail for email, DuckDuckGo for searching..etc companies will know very little of you.

If you use: Whatsapp for messaging, Chrome for browsing, Alexa for searching, Gmail, Google, and Windows expect your whole life is being recorded in text, image, video, and sound form in a huge database shared with the government and sold to the highest bidder.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Elements0fStyle

77 months ago

WhatsApp is still the best messaging app in the world. The most ubiquitous, easy to use and feature-rich.

The only cons: 1) Owned by Facebook. 2) No iPad or iPod app.

3. Their encryption has been vulnerable and I know for a fact government workers and military personnel have been advised not to use it.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

GeoStructural

77 months ago

WhatsApp is still the best messaging app in the world. The most ubiquitous, easy to use and feature-rich.

The only cons: 1) Owned by Facebook. 2) No iPad or iPod app.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Rychiar

77 months ago

In the world? Are you sure? Cause I live in Asia, and I barely heard of WA, I only got to use it for a short time because of work. But compared to other chat apps here that’s not only chat apps but also our form of mobile payments (like WeChat Pay, LINE Pay, or KakaoPay), WhatsApp is not even as closed to being as useful as these apps.

don't worry. American has barely heard of it either

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Seanm87

77 months ago

Maybe spend time creating an iPad and Apple Watch app instead of this crap

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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