The new WhatsApp update that we have been waiting for for years – is coming to mobile phones soon

Finally, a chat without registration: the Meta company has begun testing an option that allows WhatsApp users to have conversations with people who are not registered to the system, by creating a link and inviting a conversation that takes place on the application’s network interface without the need to download an application or open an account.

The world’s most popular messaging application, WhatsApp, is in the midst of developing a new service that will allow for the first time communication with users who are not part of its registered clientele. After months of testing among Android users, the Meta company is now extending the tests to Apple’s operating systems and browser versions as well.

This is a significant perceptual change for the company, since until today communication was based solely on identifying a phone number and fully registering in the system. The new service, known as “guest chat”, allows a registered user to generate a special link from the friend invitation menu in the application and send it to anyone via text message or e-mail.

When the invitees click on the link, a browser window will open for them allowing them to join the conversation as temporary users. The process requires guests to enter only a name and confirm the terms of use, after which they can begin direct correspondence with the sender. It is important to clarify that only the guest can initiate the start of the conversation after opening the link, and he will be identified in the system under the nickname “guest” along with a clarification indicating that he is not registered on WhatsApp. This move is intended, among other things, to increase the market share of the application in countries such as the United States, where the service is still less common compared to other regions of the world.

One of the main questions that arose with the disclosure of the development concerns the issue of information security and privacy. The company clarifies that calls made as guests will be protected with end-to-end encryption technology, just like normal calls between registered users. The system generates a unique identifier for the visitor in the browser, which is used to generate a secure encryption key. This means that even WhatsApp itself cannot read the content of the messages, and only the participants in the conversation are exposed to the information transmitted in it. Although this is a breach in the tough registration walls of the application, it seems that the company does not compromise on the level of security that characterizes it over the years.

However, at this stage there are significant restrictions on the use of the guest service. The current version does not support voice messages, sending files, stickers or animated images. Also, it is not possible to have voice calls or video calls in this interface, and it is limited to text correspondence only. Another limitation concerns the length of time the chat remains active, currently it has been decided that the conversation will be deleted and expire after 10 days of inactivity. Despite these limitations, the possibility to establish a quick contact with a person without the need for a long registration process may provide an excellent solution for businesses or for one-time logistical needs.

As of today, the feature is open to a limited number of beta testers among iPhone, Android and web version users. An exact timetable for wide distribution to all users in the world has not yet been published, but the estimates are that the service will be gradually implemented in the coming months. The transition to a model that allows external access to the interface without an account marks a new stage in Meta’s strategy, in which it tries to turn WhatsApp into a universal communication tool that transcends the traditional registration barrier. While close to 100% of users in Israel already have an active account, for the international market this is news that may change usage habits.