Exciting WhatsApp update: Soon, you may chat even when your phone is off!

Messaging platform WhatsApp has a limitation at present. If you want to sign onto WhatsApp on the web or desktop app to access it, you will require your phone to be connected to the internet, as it works on one device at a time. This situation is likely to change. According to WABetaInfo, which informs about the latest changes in WhatsApp, the messaging app is working on a new platform to provide greater interoperability between devices. 

WABetaInfo, however, stated that this feature is still in the ‘rumor’ category, but referring to the new feature, added, “everything I’ve discovered in these months leads me to that conclusion.” The changes would reportedly allow users to use their WhatsApp account on multiple devices, without routing everything through their phone. They would also not worry about restricting the number of connected devices.

WABetaInfo further informed that the new feature would work more like Apple’s iMessage or Facebook Messenger. However, it’s not clear how the feature will work. 

Earlier in 2015, WhatsApp had released a web version that mirrored the conversation from the mobile app, but to use it, one needed to have their phone connected to the Internet. 

WABetaInfo, however, has tweeted that the company might be developing a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app along with a new multi-platform system that would work even when your phone is off. Notably, the multi-platform system would reportedly work in synchronisation with WhatsApp`s UWP, which is also in the works, to offer the standard chat interface on different devices with the same account. 

WhatsApp has also announced to launch its Payments service in India later this year. With over 1.5 billion monthly users, WhatsApp has said it is ready with its data localisation plans for its Pay service. "In response to India`s payments data circular, we`ve built a system that stores payments-related data locally in India," a WhatsApp spokesperson had told IANS.