CALIFORNIA: WhatsApp consistently introduces new features, and one recent addition may take you by surprise. The Meta-owned instant messaging app seems to be actively developing a feature that enables users to share files wirelessly.
This specific feature is crafted to operate seamlessly between devices that are near each other. WhatsApp’s goal is to streamline the wireless file-sharing experience between Android and iPhone devices, actively working on this capability to complement the existing file-sharing systems on both Android smartphones and iPhones.
According to WABetaInfo, the beta version (2.24.2.20) of WhatsApp for Android includes a file-sharing feature designed specifically for nearby devices. To make use of this feature, both users must have the People Nearby screen open to send or receive files. If the other person’s phone number is not nearby, their devices won’t be visible to each other.
Additionally, initiating a file-sharing request requires one of the two individuals wanting to share files wirelessly to open the People Nearby screen and shake their device. This upcoming function is set to support file sizes of up to 2 GB. While currently undergoing internal testing at WhatsApp, there’s a possibility that this feature could be released to users later in the year.
From our perspective, this method of file sharing seems particularly beneficial for transferring files between Android devices and iPhones. In other scenarios, the native file-sharing methods on Android (Quick Share) and iOS (AirDrop) prove to be more faster and straightforward. It’s worth mentioning that Quick Share was recently integrated with Nearby Share, enhancing ease of use in the Android ecosystem.
