The winds of change are blowing on WhatsApp. The application seems to be close to receiving a very important update, starting with the redesign in Android and going forward. channels, a function that is under development and that we are now able to know ahead of time thanks to WaBetaInfo. It is an information dissemination system in the purest Telegram style that could mean a complete change in our use of WhatsApp, without knowing exactly how it would work.

Channels are being developed and they are not even available for beta users at the moment. But it makes a lot of sense for them to reach WhatsApp. Meta is betting on soon-to-be-launched channels in other apps like Instagram, and it’s normal for them to want to take them to WhatsApp, one of the most used messaging apps in the world.

These will be WhatsApp channels

According to a series of screenshots obtained by WaBetaInfo (on both iOS and Android), WhatsApp channels A process similar to Telegram’s. For practical purposes, they will be like a chat with a user, but the messages will be broadcast by the channel’s admins to distribute them to all the channel’s followers. We do not know what options there will be, because Telegram is very powerful in this regard, but it is expected to be able to send text messages, images, videos and files, as is already possible in chats. We will have to wait.

In addition, we can see the number of followers of the channel, its description and features: if it is a public or private channel and the privacy settings of our profile within the channel. Likewise, at the top there will be three buttons to follow, forward and share the channel and a button to mute notifications. Finally, there will be two buttons to unfollow or report a channel.

This is what WhatsApp channels will look like – Image: WaBetaInfo

One thing that stands out is when a channel is public, it explains, “anyone can find that channel and see what’s being shared”. Does this mean there will be a global channel search engine like Telegram’s within WhatsApp? We don’t know but that’s how it is on Telegram and everything from the description points to it. It will be time to wait to see the final implementation of channels to clear any doubts.

What is clear is that WhatsApp channels have the potential to completely change the way we use the app. Channels (and bots) have always been one of Telegram’s main benefits, and their arrival on WhatsApp now is interesting to say the least. However, it is not yet known whether WhatsApp offers any integration with automation platforms such as IFTTT and what options it offers to administrators. In conclusion, the key to Telegram channels is how easy it is to find and manage them.

via | WaBeta Information

Image | pexels

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