WhatsApp is in the development phase of its own backup system, which will include 2 GB of free storage, in addition to offering various paid options. This information was disclosed by WABetaInfo.
This new feature was identified in a test version of the WhatsApp application intended for iOS. It will give users the option to choose where to store their backups: either on WhatsApp's own servers or on Apple iCloud, which is the officially available alternative currently.
Although the service offers 2 GB for free, WABetaInfo points out that this capacity may be limited for many users, given the common use of the messenger for sharing media such as photos, videos, and documents. For those who need more space, paid plans will be available.
WhatsApp's paid plans are expected to start with 50 GB for $0.99 monthly in the United States. This price is comparable to the most basic iCloud+ plan, which also offers 50 GB. Furthermore, other paid modalities are expected, including an option with 1 TB capacity.
Currently, there is no set date for the launch of this backup. There are speculations about Meta abandoning the project, but WABetaInfo suggests that the feature will be implemented, as it represents a new revenue source for the company.
It is important to note that this functionality will not be exclusive to iPhone devices; a similar option had already been detected by WABetaInfo for Android at the end of April this year.
Professionals and businesses using WhatsApp Business now have the ability to manage more than one business number using the same smartphone. This multi-account feature was gradually introduced by the platform for users of the beta version of the application on the Android operating system.
This functionality allows maintaining two distinct business profiles within the same application, ensuring that each account keeps its own separate settings, contacts, and conversations. The initial release of this feature is occurring progressively for those who are part of the testing program.
The update is particularly useful for those who need to monitor various business activities simultaneously, such as different brands, branches, or sectors belonging to the same organization, eliminating the need to use an additional device to access each number.
Setting up a second account can be done directly through the internal options of the application. The user must navigate to the profile settings and select the addition button located near the existing account name.
After registering the new number and completing the verification process, both accounts become accessible on the same device. Switching between profiles is done in the chats area, where the option to switch between registered numbers appears. Furthermore, the application notifies the user about new messages received on an account that is not currently active, although it is necessary to manually switch to view these conversations.
Currently, the tool is only being made available to participants of the WhatsApp Business beta program on Android who are using version 2.24.27.5 or a later version. Even within this group of testers, availability may vary due to phased distribution.
In this initial phase, each device supports a maximum of two business accounts. This implementation brings WhatsApp Business closer to the behavior of the main WhatsApp application, which implemented support for multiple profiles in 2023. There is currently no defined date for when this function will be released in the stable version of the application.
WhatsApp stated that claims suggesting users can reserve popular or well-known names are false. The platform emphasized that reserving the names of famous public figures is exclusively available to the legal owners of those accounts.
This statement was made as part of a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) published by Meta, the company that owns the WhatsApp messenger. This username feature has sparked controversy due to concerns related to fraud and impersonation.
On Wednesday, the Centre in India sent a notification to Meta regarding the planned feature in WhatsApp. The notification expressed concerns that this feature could significantly increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest schemes, and identity impersonation attacks. The regulator demanded a halt to the implementation of this feature until consultations on the matter are completed and satisfy the Government.
India is a key market for WhatsApp, where over 500 million users utilize the messenger. Some notable personalities recently used the X platform to voice concern after discovering that most variations of their names had already been taken during the current username reservation phase.
Former Deputy Minister for Delhi Affairs Manish Sisodia posted on X, expressing surprise that 'almost every variation' of his name and his party AAP seemed to have already been reserved. Others, such as MobiKwik CEO Bipinpreet Singh, also found that close versions of their names were occupied during the early period of username reservation.
Experts and users believe that the new WhatsApp username feature could trigger a surge in fraud, spoofing, and financial scams. In its notification, the government expressed concern that the feature could 'significantly increase' cases of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest schemes, and identity impersonation attacks, allowing malicious actors to attract and communicate with victims. It required Meta to explain why it should not take action under the Information Technology Act and rules concerning the new WhatsApp feature that could facilitate cybercrime.
The Centre also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social networking intermediary, is obligated to comply with due diligence requirements under the Information Technology Act and rules. In response, WhatsApp issued a statement on Wednesday defending the feature, citing built-in anti-fraud and anti-impersonation mechanisms designed to protect users.
A WhatsApp representative stated that the ability to use a username is not yet activated and will be gradually rolled out later this year. He clarified: 'To prevent impersonation, we have reserved the most famous names—such as public figures, government institutions, celebrities, verified Meta accounts—so that only legal owners can claim them, and similar derivatives of famous names have also been reserved.' Meta added that users still need a phone number to use WhatsApp, and that the company has implemented multiple layers of anti-fraud protection in the username system.
The company also reported that 'other users need to know the exact username to message you. We will limit the number of new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess the username key, and create systems to detect and remove activity showing common patterns of impersonation and abuse.' WhatsApp will display whether the sender is a new account, a contact, a group member, or from another country before users reply.
However, the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) expressed concern over the Centre's letter, stating that WhatsApp's notification lacks a clear legal basis. This digital rights group noted: 'This is an attempt by the executive branch to decide what a company can create and release, which no law permits.' IFF also wrote on social media: 'The notification treats the launch of a legitimate feature as a mistake that the company must justify. This changes the usual position, especially given the lack of any clear legal force. MeitY does not cite any provisions that would allow it to approve a product feature before release or demand its withdrawal, because there are none, and the provisions cited do not grant such authority.'
WhatsApp is developing several new features for iPhone, including a redesigned Contacts tab and a private panel dedicated to interacting with Meta AI. Currently, these features are in the testing phase and have only been made available to a limited group of users, according to Mac Magazine.
One of the planned changes involves reforming the Contacts section, which should appear in the bottom bar of the application on the iOS system. In addition to changing position, this tab will start showing contacts who are currently active or who have had recent connections. Users who chose to keep the privacy setting to hide the 'Last seen and online' option will remain excluded from this list. However, this novelty has not yet been implemented for all participants in the beta program nor for users of the stable version.
Another feature under test is Side Chat. Unlike interrupting the main conversation, this feature opens an isolated panel to allow the user to converse privately with Meta AI. According to WABetaInfo, this function is already accessible to a very limited group of users on both Android and iOS. This feature offers several capabilities, such as conversing with Meta AI in a private environment, receiving contextualized answers based on conversation history, using the Private Processing architecture, and enriching answers with web searches. It is important to note that, unlike messages sent using @MetaAI, all communication occurs within the user's individual space.
WhatsApp ensures that Side Chat operates using the Private Processing architecture, which prevents any processed data from being linked to the user. Access to this function can be done by swiping the 'Ask privately' option, located on the right side of the screen. Even when the system uses conversation context to formulate answers, it is designed so that this content is not exposed to Meta.
In this experimental phase, Side Chat is not compatible with temporary conversations or chats with advanced privacy activated. Both innovations remain without a defined date for release to all users, as part of the tests conducted by WhatsApp before a possible wider availability.
