WhatsApp has been developing their messaging platform to make it interesting, easier to use, and thorough. With each feature, they first roll it out to beta testers, do immense testing in terms of ease, bandwidth and compatibility and then release it to public after it is properly functioning. In this way, they are making WhatsApp a unique messaging platform with the least amount of bugs and issues. However, the process is slow and it seems like WhatsApp is bringing features that already exist on rival platforms.
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Mentions and Group invite link: they are future features of #WhatsApp!#whatsappbeta #beta #iOS pic.twitter.com/7364M6xg17
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) 20 June 2016
This time, information comes in from WABetaInfo, who tweeted about a new feature that will be introduced by WhatsApp in its future releases. The feature explained here is an option to mention people in chats. Similar to how you use it on Twitter with the ‘@’ symbol before a name, you can also mention people in chats with other people. For example, the message sent by ABC to XYZ mentions NOP in the message:
Hi ABC, are you okay if @NOP comes along with us on the trip?
Here you will see @ being a little faded out and NOP being highlighted in blue similar to a link.
Also read: WhatsApp gets new 'quote' feature in latest update
As for now, it is not yet clear how this will function. Will the person mentioned in the chat also receive the same message? Or will it be as usual, but the recipient will be able to get the contact’s details automatically on the chat message?
Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the same source also tweeted another screenshot which reveals that WhatsApp will roll out the feature of link-based group invites.
Also read: 40 WhatsApp secrets everyone should know
As for now there is no confirmation about when these features will be released to public.
Also read: WhatsApp to enable group invitations via link, NFC, QR
