One of the big changes prepared for the stellar messaging app is already in WhatsApp: users Send files to nearby devices without having to have an open chat with them. We were able to open the call screen for nearby smartphones.

Android has a native file sharing system called Quick Share. The Evolution of Sharing With Nearby, a system that has mutated thanks to the collaboration between Google and Samsung, Quick Share sending files to another Android is child’s play. Or almost, because first you have to know it exists and then, activate on both sending and receiving mobile phone. For this reason, the system prepared by WhatsApp can succeed where Google cannot.

WhatsApp will allow easy file sharing between Android and iPhone

Sending any photo, video or document via WhatsApp is not complicated, you just need to open a chat with the person who will receive them. But what if we don’t want to start a conversation? This is where WhatsApp works: Meta, as we learned last January sharing with close people. And now we have more information about how this works.

WhatsApp has enabled a function in the code called “ThunderStorm” which, when enabled, allows the following: Detect devices in close proximity with file sharing enabled. After clicking on the search, a radar window appears showing that the process is running; next to a small radar animation at the top.

Information about the user who is ready to receive the file

Searching for nearby devices allows the device’s location to take advantage of Bluetooth, a connection used to detect nearby mobile phones exchanging files (If Bluetooth is disabled, WhatsApp will enable it to make calls). We can structure our user screen so that anyone who wants to share content with us can recognize us. Once the transfer is accepted, WhatsApp will be responsible for transmitting the files without interfering with the app’s chats.

In principle, the function of sharing nearby files will be active for both Android and iPhone, thus opening a bridge between operating systems and exchanging photos, videos or documents will become much easier, thanks to the popularity of the messaging application. With other users. Whatever system they have.

Screen of the user who shared the file

This feature is currently in the testing phase, but there is still time for the device browser to be improved: “Lorem Ipsum” in the texts already indicates the experimental state of the tool. The rest of the process seems to be working, though: We don’t believe it will take too long for WhatsApp to complete development and activate it for users with beta versions.

Cover image | Ivan Linares

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