WhatsApp is breaking new ground with a feature in its latest Android beta version (2.25.22.13), enabling users to communicate with individuals who don’t have the app or an account.
This innovative “guest chat” functionality allows a user to initiate a chat by selecting a contact’s number and generating a unique link. The recipient can then join the conversation by clicking the link, sending messages without needing to register or install WhatsApp — a move that could broaden the app’s reach significantly.
However, there’s a catch: the feature won’t work if the selected contact already has a WhatsApp account but chooses not to use it.
This limitation ensures the system prioritizes existing users while offering an entry point for non-users. Guest chats are streamlined for simplicity, supporting only text messages, with no option to share media files or voice notes, reflecting a cautious approach to functionality in this experimental phase.
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Security remains a cornerstone, with all messages protected by end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access the content. This aligns with WhatsApp’s long-standing commitment to privacy, even as it tests this novel way to connect. The feature, still in development, hints at WhatsApp’s ambition to make communication more accessible, though its full rollout and technical details — such as how encryption is maintained without an account — await official clarification. For now, this beta update signals a potential shift in how we think about messaging apps, blurring the lines between traditional users and newcomers.
