WhatsApp has a new feature in the works in its latest attempts to offer consumer-focused features and to compete with the likes of Telegram. For one, Channels is one of the features that makes WhatsApp lag a bit behind Telegram, and now, Android Police reports the company is working on catching up.
WhatsApp working on making Channels easily discoverable
WABetaInfo has now unearthed a feature that's currently under development for WhatsApp. It was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.12.4. Once this feature is released, you will be able to search for a channel by name, and you will also be able to filter results alphabetically, by popularity, or based on recency.
This feature is still under development though, which means that it may not even be visible to all beta testers. All in all, it seems that Channels are now getting closer to a release.
Based on previous rumors and discovered info in beta, channels would work similarly to a WhatsApp broadcast. The feature will have safeguards built to protect the identities of members of a channel. For example, nobody will be able to see which channels you're subscribed to. Also, subscribers won't be able to see the phone number of the channel owner.
It's possible the Channels feature will be positioned within the Status tab (which could get renamed to Updates). Channels most likely won't be end-to-end encrypted. However, they would operate separately from private or group chats, so channels probably won't affect the current encryption protocols of WhatsApp.
Create a free account and join our vibrant community
Register to enjoy the full PhoneArena experience. Here’s what you get with your PhoneArena account:
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: