Earlier this month, WhatsApp started rolling out a multi-device compatibility feature that allows users to access the app on laptops or other devices simultaneously. WhatsApp’s parent company Facebook in a blog post has noted that users can now access WhatsApp on their phones and up to four other non-phone devices simultaneously, even if their phone battery is dead. “Each companion device will connect to your WhatsApp independently while maintaining the same level of privacy and security through end-to-end encryption that people who use WhatsApp have come to expect,” Facebook had noted.
Now, according to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has started releasing the multi-device beta program for some iOS users up to version 2.21.150.11. The report noted that WhatsApp is partially rolling out the feature so not all WhatsApp accounts can be eligible just yet. However, to check if a WhatsApp account is eligible, users can go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked Devices which was previously called WhatsApp Web or Desktop. A new row called multi-device will appear for eligible users of the beta program. Selecting the feature will enable WhatsApp users to access WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp Desktop and Portal without an Internet connection on the user's main phone.
WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted and WhatsApp this month noted that end-to-end encryption will extend to the multi-device feature as well. The company said that new technologies maintain end-to-end encryption while keeping the users data which includes messages, message history, contact names, starred messages across devices.
WhatsApp also developed a new technology called Automatic Device Verification to reduce identity verifications. What will stay the same from the previous method of linking devices is linking each device using a QR code from their phone. The process will require biometric authentication before linking where people have enabled this feature on compatible devices. After users finish all the steps, they will be able to see the companion devices linked to their account when they were last used and will be able to log out of them remotely if required.
Currently, WhatsApp requires a phone to be operative in order to run on other devices. The messaging app notes that this created hurdles for users to operate WhatsApp on multiple platforms as a user would entirely depend on their phone having a good internet connection or battery. It also allowed only one device to be operative at a time, restricting people to be on call in the portal while checking their messages.
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