After months of rumours and appearances in the very initial WhatsApp Beta for Android, it appears that the testing for WhatsApp's Guest Chats feature has commenced for the general public. The feature is now rolling out to a limited number of beta users on Android and iOS, allowing them to chat with people who are not available on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp Guest Chats arrive on Android and iOS
Reported first by WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp Guest Chats feature is now rolling out with its latest Beta version 2.25.22.13 on Android and iOS. WhatsApp users can now generate an invite link from their contacts list and share it with the person they want to chat with. The Gues Chats feature was spotted last year in another Beta.
When the recipient taps on the link, they bypass the app store completely. Instead, a browser window opens with WhatsApp web. The guest needs to simply enter a display name and can begin chatting instantaneously. However, the method has strict limitations on what users can do.
For starters, the chat session is limited to texting and doesn't allow media, calls, voice notes and GIFs. Besides, only one-on-one conversations are supported, and the chat automatically expires after 10 days of inactivity, requiring a new link to resume communication, which starts afresh.
The chats are fully end-to-end encrypted, and WhatsApp will display a warning that guest identities are not verified. If an invite link is shared publicly, a stranger could potentially join the chat. The app does counter this by labelling guest accounts. The inviter has full control to block the guest if needed. Additionally, guests can only message the specific person who generated their unique invite link
Considering the testing goes smoothly, the feature should roll out widely in the coming months. We will be the first to let users know about it, so stay tuned.
