In what appears to be like another take on Snapchat's growing popularity globally, Facebook's WhatsApp has officially released WhatsApp Status, a new tab for sharing decorated photos. But a significant catch was quickly noted by tech enthusiasts upon its launch — it's end-to-end encryption. An advantage that might definitely put the brakes on photo-messaging app's international surge.
TechCrunch has reported that messaging app giant WhatsApp has launched WhatsApp Status, a new tab in which users are enabled to share decorated photos in which its security is also under an end-to-end encryption, akin to WhatsApp's messaging system. With the new feature, users can now watch updates from friends and reply privately while also allowing them to adorn their messages with imageries. In addition, users can still send media to specific contacts or friends via the app's message threads.
The introduction of WhatsApp Status is not only a feature-based add on. It could also be designed to widen the application's advertising opportunities like what Snapchat and Instagram have been doing up to for quite some time. If its opportunities are achieved, then WhatsApp could eventually insert full-screen ads in-between the user's friends' Statuses.
Meanwhile, the new WhatsApp Status feature now replaces the apps old AOL Instant Messenger-style away messaging.The replacement officially ditches the app's only distinctive feature when it was introduced almost eight years ago. As such, the launching of the Status feature is a welcoming approach to WhatsApp's desire to adapt, change and transcend.
"Just like eight years ago when we first started WhatsApp, this new and improved statius feature will let you keep your friends who use WhatsApp easily updated in a fun and simple way. From all of us at WhatsApp, we hope you enjoy it!" WhatsApp founder Jam Koum has shared, as per The Independent. The launching of WhatsApp Status coincides with the app's forthcoming 8th year anniversary on Feb. 24.
